Because of the season, all four doors of Liufang Pavilion were closed, except for a row of windows facing Bixin Lake, which revealed the misty lake surface.
If the first snow falls, Liufang Pavilion will be even more suitable for enjoying the snow scenery. Li Shiyue thought to herself that she would like to come to Liufang Pavilion after the first snow falls.
The woman who spoke was somewhat unfamiliar, and the joy on her face had not yet faded when Feng Lanyin, who was sitting with her, stared wide-eyed. The woman's smile froze for a moment, and she had no choice but to suppress it.
Xu Lingzi picked up the wine pot, which contained fruit-flavored wine. It tasted like grape juice, sweet and perfect for young women.
Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Lingzi lowered her voice and, in a voice that only the two of them could hear, looked up at the direction of Feng Lanyin and her mother: "That is a branch of the Feng family. The Minister's Mansion is the main branch of the eldest son. Now, everyone in the Feng family is in charge of Minister Feng. So, Feng Liuniang naturally has to live according to the wishes of the eldest son."
Li Shiyue then remembered which family's maid she was assigned to when the positions were arranged.
She and Xu Lingzi raised their glasses together. Li Shiyue smiled and looked around, taking in the expressions of the ladies, including Xu Lingwan sitting in the crowd.
"Thank you so much for joining us for today's birthday banquet. This toast is a toast from my cousin Azi and me to welcome you all."
As soon as they finished speaking, the two men drank their glasses in one gulp, and then the others raised their glasses in a gesture of acknowledgment.
Fu Yunning raised her wine glass, glancing sideways at Princess Chunhui's reaction. She raised her glass a little slower than the others, and without gesturing to the person in charge, she drank it down on her own.
Indeed, she is the only daughter of the emperor, the only princess of this dynasty. Even if this behavior is impolite, who would dare to criticize it?
Fu Yunning lowered her eyes, concealing the gloom in them, and glanced at Princess Chunhui staring at her wine glass, a smug smile on her lips, as if something perfect had happened.
Fu Yunning tilted her head back, the wine in the glass flowing down her throat. She wiped her lips with a handkerchief, and as if by chance, she looked up and met Bai Shao's gaze. In that instant, she saw Bai Shao nod almost imperceptibly.
He leisurely put down his wine glass, a hint of smugness on his lips. He glanced around, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he straightened his back, adopting a posture of watching a show.
The screens on either side obscured the outline of the other side, allowing only the conversation of the young men on the other side to be heard. Since they were all men, Li Shiyue couldn't personally intervene; today, Xu Yunci and a few others were handling the reception.
"It's not that I'm doing you a favor, but since the Rongguo Duke's Mansion is here, I have to come out of courtesy." Feng Lanyin glared at her cousin beside her, not even glancing at the person at the head of the table, her arrogance almost enough to overturn the banquet.
Her seat was near the front, the second one on the right. The women behind her were chatting and didn't notice what was happening in front of her at all.
Qin Wanyin and Xu Wan were sitting in front of her. Upon hearing Feng Lanyin's words, Qin Wanyin snorted and put down her chopsticks: "I didn't know that in Xu Lizhe's territory, someone would dare to point fingers at the Xu family. Could it be that you are a member of the Xu family? That you can represent the Xu family's will?"
They said it was out of consideration for the Xu family, and that no one was forcing you to come if you didn't want to. It's as if they were practically begging you to come. You're not a princess; whether you come or not, we'll welcome you with courtesy. But you act like you want to ruin their feast.
She was different from others. Everyone called her Prince Xu. Unlike Princess Chunhui, who called her Brother Lizhe, she was the only one among the girls who couldn't bring herself to call him Brother. So she simply called him Xu Lizhe from childhood.
She glanced at Princess Chunhui, then turned to look at Feng Lanyin, letting out a soft snort that sounded like mockery to Feng Lanyin.
Compared to Li Shiyue, Princess Chunhui also disliked Feng Lanyin very much, and naturally did not give Feng Lanyin a good face. She was just a young lady from the Minister's mansion, yet she put on airs.
Looking around, when have the young ladies of the capital ever lacked a Minister's mansion? The mansions of the Grand Tutor and the Grand Commandant are truly high-ranking officials. Compared to a Minister of Revenue, they are nothing in the eyes of a princess.
Qin Wanyin was straightforward and spoke softly, but the two people sitting in the front seats could hear her. However, she did leave some room for politeness in her words.
Seeing Feng Lanyin glare at her, Qin Wanyin shrugged indifferently and picked up her chopsticks to taste the dishes in front of her.
Since Feng Lanyin spoke, Li Shiyue's expression remained unchanged, still maintaining a smile on her face, but her slightly raised eyebrows suppressed her displeasure.
It seems that all those words she spoke in the corridor today were in vain. Since that's the case, why should she hold back? They don't need it, so why should she go out of her way to please them?
"It is an honor for Yichang that Your Highness, Your Majesty, the Princess, and the two princes have come."
Li Shiyue turned her head and glanced at the pavilion behind her. Madam Feng, who had been chatting with Madam Yang, looked at Feng Lanyin with a more meaningful gaze.
"It is a great honor for Yichang that all of you sisters have come. However, Miss Feng is unhappy with me. There is no need to involve the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. Or is it that Miss Feng actually has some kind of grudge against the Xu family?"
Her tone was gentle, and the smile on her lips remained. Before Feng Lanyin could answer, her smile deepened: "I don't think so. Given Madam Feng's attitude towards my aunt, it's best not to say such things again, otherwise people will think there's some conflict between the two families."
Feng Lanyin's face turned pale and red in turns. She understood what Li Shiyue meant. Only Xu Lingzi and Li Shiyue did not show any doubt. Obviously, they both saw that Madam Feng's attitude towards Yang was too enthusiastic, so enthusiastic that it seemed cheap.
She suppressed her anger, picked up her food, and remained silent.
What a waste! She still wants to marry into the Rongguo Duke's mansion.
Princess Chunhui was unaware that her thoughts were exactly the same as those of Fu Yunning, who was eating with her eyes downcast beside her. Her eyes held undisguised contempt as she turned to look at Fu Yunning, who was still eating, her disdain growing even stronger.
"How can you still eat? Why don't you go and see if your brother, the Prince of Yan, has had too much to drink?"
Fu Yunning put down her chopsticks, her left hand clenched into a fist under her sleeve. Seeing that no one was paying attention to what Princess Chunhui had said, she suppressed her anger and smiled at her: "What are you saying, Princess? There is a difference between men and women. This humble woman and the Prince of Yan have nothing between us."
Princess Chunhui clearly didn't believe it, her eyes filled with disdain: "Come on, everyone in the capital knows that Prince Yan has always wanted to marry you, and even your uncle agreed. But you, relying on your mother's favor, are putting on airs like a mistress."
"If it weren't for my mother taking pity on you and bringing you into the Pixiang Palace, would you have a good life? My brother, the Prince of Yan, is such a fine husband. You'll be a first-rank prince's wife after marrying him. What more could you ask for?"
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