Princess Mingyue returned to her room.
Even her exquisite makeup couldn't hide the slight fatigue in her expression.
Upon seeing this, the maid Xiao Cui quickly stepped forward to remove her makeup and offered her a cup of hot tea.
"Princess, it seems your encounter with Lord Lu today did not go well?"
Xiao Cui asked cautiously.
Princess Mingyue took the teacup, took a small sip, and sighed.
"Lu Yan... always keeps people at arm's length, making him unpredictable."
She put down her teacup and her gaze fell on the blooming peach blossoms outside the window.
“However, I will not give up. Xiao Cui, help me make preparations. I am going to hold a banquet in Shannan Prefecture.”
Xiao Cui was somewhat surprised:
"A banquet? So sudden? Who should we invite?"
Princess Mingyue smiled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes:
"Of course we should invite the officials and scholars of Shannan Prefecture, and... Lu Yan, he must come."
She paused, then continued.
"I want to throw the grandest banquet ever, and I want everyone to know,"
"I, Princess Mingyue, not only possess a noble status, but also extraordinary talent and charm."
The whole afternoon was spent busy preparing for the banquet, from setting up the venue to preparing the dishes.
Princess Mingyue did everything herself, striving to do her best.
She specially arranged for precious silk and flowers to be transported from the Northern Xiang Kingdom to decorate the banquet venue beautifully.
In order to get Lu Yan's attention, she even inquired about his favorite dishes and music.
They will then be included in the banquet menu and performance program.
Princess Mingyue, as a shrewd planner, considered every detail carefully.
The reason was simply to make Lu Yan smile.
That evening, the official residence of Shannan Prefecture was brightly lit.
Hundreds of glass palace lanterns hung high, illuminating the courtyard with exceptional splendor.
Officials and nobles from surrounding prefectures, dressed in fine clothes, entered the official residence in groups of three or five.
Most of the men were dressed in brocade robes with jade pendants at their waists, chatting and laughing.
The ladies wore brightly colored silk skirts and their hair was adorned with pearl hairpins, making them look elegant and noble.
They whispered among themselves, discussing the recent changes in Shannan Prefecture and their anticipation for the grand event.
Lu Yan chose a dark blue robe, simple yet elegant in style.
He stood quietly in the corner, carefully managing his behavior to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.
In such situations, he always remained calm and observant, taking everything in.
Some officials who were skeptical of his reforms were gathered together, whispering amongst themselves under the influence of alcohol.
Lu Yan simply smiled and blended into the crowd without making a sound.
In the center of the banquet hall, a huge Persian carpet was laid out.
On the carpet, various exquisite snacks and fruits were laid out for the guests to enjoy.
The banquet reached its climax as melodious music filled the air.
Princess Mingyue specially arranged a meticulously designed song and dance performance.
She was dressed in a bright yellow dance dress and gracefully entered the arena amidst the attention of the crowd.
The dancers behind her, also dressed in colorful costumes, danced gracefully.
Their dance moves were as fluid as water, graceful and beautiful, so beautiful that one couldn't bear to look away.
Princess Mingyue's every glance and every movement was full of charm.
It was as if she wanted to draw everyone's attention to herself.
The music is sometimes soothing and sometimes stirring.
The dancers' graceful movements brought the banquet to a climax.
Princess Mingyue's bright eyes sparkled as she glanced at Lu Yan every now and then, her heart filled with anticipation.
Lu Yan sat at the table, quietly enjoying the magnificent performance.
The lights shone in his deep eyes, making the dancing figures appear even more vivid under his gaze.
He watched with great interest, a smile of appreciation on his face.
However, Lu Yan maintained a proper distance and did not give Princess Mingyue much of a response.
Upon seeing this, Princess Mingyue's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she was not discouraged.
She knew it would take time to change Lu Yan's attitude, and she had always been a patient person.
She stepped forward and gently inquired of Lu Yan:
"Is Lord Lu satisfied with tonight's arrangements?"
Lu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, met her gaze, and said with a hint of teasing,
"Princess Mingyue's arrangements are undoubtedly brilliant, but to win my attention, she will probably need to put in a lot of effort."
Although these words seemed like a joke, Princess Mingyue took them as encouragement.
She smiled gently, a stronger fighting spirit seemingly ignited within her.
Just then, the atmosphere at the banquet suddenly became subtle.
A wealthy merchant, dressed in a brocade robe and with a jade belt around his waist, and with a plump figure, suddenly walked up to Lu Yan.
His face was plastered with a smile, and he gave a forced, insincere bow.
"Prefect Lu, I've long admired you."
"I have heard that you have carried out a series of great achievements in Shannan Prefecture. Today I would like to ask you for some advice."
As he spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb.
While her words appeared respectful, a hint of contempt for Lu Yan was subtly revealed in her eyes.
Lu Yan raised his eyes and subtly sized up the wealthy businessman from head to toe:
This man was fair-skinned and beardless, with a sharp glint in his eyes; one could tell at a glance that he was a seasoned veteran of the business world.
He immediately gave a meaningful smile and said in a relaxed tone:
"The words 'please advise' should have been used on you, sir."
"After all, I am far inferior to them in terms of various strategies and business tactics."
He spoke slowly, but every word was sharp.
It seemed effortlessly that the true meaning hidden behind the words was revealed.
The wealthy businessman was taken aback by the implied meaning.
The smile on his face froze slightly, and he looked a little embarrassed.
At the same time, he was also impressed by Lu Yan's composure and didn't know how to respond.
Seeing this, Princess Mingyue rolled her eyes and broke the awkward atmosphere in time.
She raised her glass, smiling sweetly, and said:
"Mr. Li is too kind. Lord Lu is known for his incorruptibility and dedication to the people."
"You're trying to teach him business principles? Isn't that like showing off your limited skills before an expert?"
With her quick wit, the atmosphere returned to its previous pleasant state.
The banquet continued, with toasts and laughter filling the air.
Princess Mingyue's charming laughter still echoed in Lu Yan's ears.
Is this woman a naive and innocent girl?
He had so clearly hinted that he wasn't interested in her anymore, yet she kept trying to get closer to him.
Lu Yan picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. The strong liquor went down his throat, but it couldn't quell the restlessness in his heart.
He didn't come here to deal with these beautiful women or engage in any romantic escapades.
Making money and gaining power—that's his goal.
Just then, a familiar figure gracefully approached.
It was Chen Qingwan. Lu Yan's eyes lit up. Finally, someone he could talk to about serious matters had arrived.
"What? Princess Mingyue's lavish hospitality is not enough for you, sir?"
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