Only Liu Wanning, who remained in a prostrating posture, seemed out of place in the joyful atmosphere.
However, no one, including Princess Changle, dared to remind Xiao Junzhan whether he should let the other person get up.
As the night deepened, the banquet that had brought great joy to both the host and the guests came to an end. Xiao Junzhan stood up and left the table. When he passed by Liu Wanning, who had been kneeling all night, he did not stop, but only glanced at her casually and said in a calm voice, "No need to be polite."
The proud girl's face, which was already covered in cold sweat, turned pale in an instant.
Killing people and destroying their hearts is nothing more than this.
…………
On the carriage back to the palace, Xiao Junzhan held the warm jade in his hand, carefully stroking the word "Ran" on it, his eyes gentle.
Ning Hai, who was standing by, whispered, "After all, she is the daughter of the Duke of Anguo. Your Highness did not give her any face today."
"She has high aspirations. Saving face will only lead to greater ambitions." Xiao Junzhan's expression was slightly restrained, and he said in a calm voice, "I can't give her what she wants."
Ning Hai thought of the lively figure of the girl from the Wei family and said with a smile: "Your Highness has never indulged in women in the early years. Now that he has someone in his heart, he is even more..."
Xiao Junzhan paused for a moment and glanced at him: "What do you want to say?"
Ning Hai knew that he was in a good mood at the moment, so she was not frightened. Instead, she smiled and said, "I am happy for Your Highness."
He was really happy. As a close attendant following Xiao Junzhan, Ning Hai knew that before meeting the girl from the Wei family, his master had thought about adopting a child from the royal family, and had no intention of forcing himself to welcome any noble lady to the position of Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace.
Despite his illness, His Majesty tried several times to choose a concubine for Your Highness, but Your Highness was completely unmoved.
Now, there is a girl who can open His Highness' heart. I am afraid even His Majesty would be overjoyed.
As for the eldest son of the Gu family...it has never been a problem.
Ning Hai lowered his eyebrows and thought coldly, even if he asked God for the courage of a leopard, no one would dare to snatch people from His Highness.
…………
The next day, Wei Hanzhang got up early and prepared to go out for the banquet.
As the eldest daughter of Princess Changle and the Prince of Qi, Qi Yuxiao was canonized as a first-rank princess by the current emperor as soon as she was born. Although her surname is not Xiao, her grandfather is his maternal grandfather and her uncle is the future emperor.
Compared to the real Princess Xiao, Princess Chengyi is of a more noble status. If Liu Wanning is the most beautiful woman in the capital, then Qi Yuxiao is the most noble lady in the capital, and her fame is absolutely unmatched.
Her coming-of-age party was naturally very lively as all the prominent noble families in the capital were proud to receive the invitation.
Qi Yuxiao's marriage is undecided, and today is also the day to choose a good husband for her. Basically all the young men who don't have any engagements have come.
The only one in the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery who was qualified to get this marriage proposal was Wei Yunshan, the third son of the Crown Prince Wei Huan. He had already gone to the side of the male guests with his father, brothers, uncles and cousins.
At today's banquet, the female members of the Wei Mansion were led by the Crown Prince's wife Qian. Only two girls came, Wei Hanshuang and Wei Hanzhang. Wei Hansu, as a concubine's daughter, was not qualified to attend.
There were too many guests, and the sisters Wei Hanzhang and Wei Hanshuang were far away, so they could not watch the entire coming-of-age ceremony.
In the middle of the journey, a brief noise was heard coming from inside. It seemed that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had sent someone to deliver a nine-section whip to celebrate the coming of age of his niece.
Princess Chengyi is the only daughter of Princess Changle and the granddaughter of the current emperor. She has been pampered since childhood. Unlike the virtuous and gentle ladies of other noble families, she is spoiled and unruly, likes to wield a whip, and is quite skilled in martial arts.
From this, it can be seen that the gift from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was really given with great care.
Wei Hanzhang has nothing to envy. Isn't it normal for an uncle to love his niece?
It’s not like she has no uncle. Ah... her uncle is still being escorted to Beijing. He will probably arrive in Beijing tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
After the coming-of-age ceremony, the guests dispersed and Wei Hanzhang and several other girls went to visit the back garden of the Duke of Qi's mansion.
The backyard of the Duke of Qi's Mansion was much larger than that of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion, and the scenery was even more unique, but Wei Hanzhang had no interest in seeing it.
Arriving at a waterside corridor, the girls paused there. Wei Hanzhang listened to their chat in a disjointed manner, propped up his chin and looked boredly at the pink tender lotus buds that had just emerged from the lotus pond in the distance.
She thought she would be able to meet the legendary Liu Wanning today. Ever since she heard this name from Wei Hanyue, Wei Hanzhang had been very curious about this eldest daughter of the Duke of Anguo and the most beautiful woman in the capital.
I heard that she admired the current crown prince and waited for several years for him to agree to choose a concubine. She wasted her youth and is now nearly 20 years old, a real "old maid".
However, even if she was an 'old maid', she was the most beautiful 'old maid' in the capital, with noble birth, stunning looks, and deep love for the prince.
In the eyes of many people, as long as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is willing to choose a concubine, the daughter of the Duke of Anguo will be a popular candidate for the Crown Prince's wife.
Last time at the birthday banquet for Marquis Yongle, Wei Hanyu fell into the water, and the Shen family encountered those troubles, which caused the women of the Wei family to temporarily leave. Wei Hanzhang did not have the chance to see this "femme fatale" who was certified by Wei Hanyue, and was forced to follow the adults back home.
Wei Hanzhang came to Duke Cheng's mansion for a banquet today. He wanted to make up for the regret of not meeting this beauty last time. Unexpectedly, Liu Wanning did not come. From listening to the girls chatting, it seemed that she was unwell.
Wei Hanzhang felt very bored as his only expectation of coming here was dashed. He should have stayed at home and went next door to improve the favorability of that Master Xiao.
According to the date, the Jiang family should arrive in Beijing in the next two days. According to the law, they will be imprisoned. Both of their grandparents are elderly, so how can Wei Hanzhang feel at ease?
Among the people she knew, the only one who could help the Jiang family with this matter was Prince Xiao.
Just as he was wandering in the sky, the noisy sounds around him suddenly quieted down. It turned out that today's protagonist, Princess Chengyi, Qi Yuxiao, had arrived.
The fifteen-year-old girl was wearing a bright red dress and holding a long black whip in her arm. She strode towards this side.
All the girls, including Wei Hanzhang, bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Princess."
Qi Yuxiao stopped and looked at them, saying, "Which one of you is called Wei Hanzhang?"
Everyone was silent, and then looked in the direction of Wei Hanzhang with different expressions. Those who were familiar with her were puzzled, wondering how she had offended this unruly princess when she just returned to the capital.
After all, hearing the tone of Princess Chengyi's voice, it was not a good thing...
Wei Hanzhang was also confused. She took a half step forward and said, "Your Highness is here."
(End of this chapter)