Chapter 258 The Crown Prince's Birthday Banquet
Jiang Fenghua paid no attention to their performance and said calmly, "Today is His Highness's twenty-sixth birthday. There are only me and you two concubines in the mansion. When you get to the banquet hall outside, just remember not to embarrass His Highness."
How close you sisters are in private is your business. I'm also busy with affairs. After His Highness's birthday banquet, several younger sisters will be coming to live in the household. At that time, you should also teach them some manners.
Both men were stunned by Jiang Fenghua's cold attitude and the dagger hidden in her smile.
Even if Jiang Fenghua were to feign concern and try to please them, wouldn't they be willing?
She actually disdained to cater to them.
Jiang Fenghua stretched out her arm, and Hongxiu quickly came over to support her. She stood up gracefully with an air of elegance and nobility. Her magnificent attire further accentuated her status as the Crown Princess. Her demeanor was dignified, and her beauty was breathtaking, inspiring awe in all who beheld her.
Su Tingwan and Ye Susu stood before her. No matter what methods they used, they were worlds apart from Jiang Fenghua.
Ye Susu suddenly felt that her white dress wasn't so pretty anymore. Her heart sank. She no longer had the capital to be arrogant. Before, she could hold her head high and say disdainful things in front of Jiang Fenghua, but now...
Su Tingwan's expression calmed down considerably. Her experience made her realize that her dream in the Morning Light Palace was just a dream. Her elder brother had also warned her not to make any further moves. Now she needed to help Ye Susu win Xie Shang's favor. No matter how much Xie Shang disliked her, he wouldn't dare to divorce her, because the royal family was also afraid that the Su family wouldn't help them guard the border.
She even suggested using this to blackmail Xie Shang into being with her, but her older brother said that Xie Shang would not be blackmailed by the Su family, and that doing so would only make Xie Shang dislike her even more.
Moreover, the Su family are subjects, and Xie Shang is the emperor. If a subject dares to coerce the emperor into favoring a woman, he probably doesn't want to live anymore. Su Tingwan is now forced into a dead end, and she has to help the woman she hates get favored by Xie Shang. Su Tingwan's fingers unconsciously tightened.
Where does Jiang Fenghua get her arrogance from? Xie Shang has married so many women into his household, and she doesn't mind at all.
The only thing that made Su Tingwan feel better was that Ye Susu was now under the Su family's command and according to her eldest brother's wishes. If Ye Susu became pregnant, the child, whether it was Xie Shang's or the Su family's, could only belong to the Su family. This was too interesting and too crazy.
As Jiang Fenghua passed by Ye Susu, she glanced at her casually. She noticed that Ye Susu was somewhat reserved and very well-behaved. Ye Susu's eyes, which were usually clear like mountain spring water, now seemed somewhat evasive. What was she afraid of?
Holding a round fan, she was dressed like a gentle woman from the water towns of Jiangnan. Jiang Fenghua suddenly smiled at her and praised, "Ye Liangqie is indeed dressed very beautifully today. This outfit suits your temperament very well."
Xie Shang originally had some affection for this gentle yet aloof woman from Jiangnan, but he didn't dare admit it to Jiang Fenghua.
Being close to Su Tingwan is definitely not good for Ye Susu.
They still hadn't figured out Xie Shang's temperament. They thought that by marrying the Crown Prince and gaining prestige, and then using some tricks to get pregnant, they would be guaranteed to become empresses. In fact, Xie Shang also hated scheming women the most. If they couldn't capture Xie Shang's heart, having a child would be all in vain, just like her in her previous life.
Su Tingwan's biggest mistake was trying so hard to have a child from the very beginning. Yunfang's bad advice only made Xie Shang see her for who she really was.
If Ye Susu were a little smarter and not so eager for quick success, she might regain Xie Shang's favor. Her outfit today was really too scheming.
Hongxiu and Lianye supported Jiang Fenghua on either side, while Su Tingwan and Ye Susu followed obediently behind her.
Just then, Xie Shang came out of the study after finishing his official business and glanced at the two people behind him.
Ye Susu glanced at Xie Shang shyly, while Su Tingwan's eyes were cold and devoid of their former brilliance; her hatred for Xie Shang was evident in her eyes.
Xie Shang was tall and slender, dressed in magnificent robes. His brows exuded unparalleled heroic spirit, and his whole being radiated the majesty of an emperor. His appearance was incomparably handsome, and his eyes sparkled with brilliance when he looked around, captivating all who saw him.
Upon seeing Jiang Fenghua, he stepped forward, took her hand, put his arm around her waist, and said with concern, "You've worked hard, Crown Princess."
Jiang Fenghua smiled, "Your Highness is so considerate, how could I feel tired?"
The group walked one after the other towards the front yard and arrived at the banquet hall, where all the invited guests had arrived.
Xie Shang rarely celebrated his birthday, let alone had such a grand birthday banquet. Every year he would celebrate in Kunning Palace, then go to pay his respects to the emperor, who would give him a token gift, but the emperor's attitude was always unpleasant.
In addition, he had something on his mind and felt only annoyed. He didn't want to celebrate his birthday at all, because he always felt that the birthday celebration given to him by the Empress was not her real birthday.
Later, he spoke openly with the Empress and received a positive answer, which finally relieved his inner turmoil.
He was very happy to have Jiang Fenghua with him. For him, this was the first birthday that he felt was meaningful, and it was also the first memorable day after his rebirth.
Xie Shang led Jiang Fenghua and helped her carefully sit in the main seat.
Ye Susu and Su Tingwan sat on either side of the main seat, and Su Tingwan kindly gave Ye Susu the seat next to Xie Shang.
There are currently only four masters in the Crown Prince's residence, which is why Steward Cheng made the arrangement this way. In fact, the seat next to Xie Shang was originally for Consort Su. Consorts are of a higher rank than concubines, so naturally they should sit next to the Crown Prince.
Ye Susu didn't understand either, and no one said anything, so they just sat down for the time being.
At this moment, everyone bowed and said in unison, "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince! May Your Highness enjoy a thousand years of health, happiness, and peace year after year!"
Xie Shang picked up his wine cup and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, please excuse the formalities. Thank you all for coming to drink my birthday wine today. I toast you all, and I share this joy with you all. Please."
Everyone raised their wine glasses again, saying, "Your Highness, please."
Immediately afterwards, songs and dances filled the hall. The songs and dances were specially arranged by the dancers and musicians whom Steward Cheng had specially invited from the outside dance hall. In fact, Steward Cheng had prepared them long ago. In previous years, there was no need to prepare at this time because the Crown Prince was just a carefree and leisurely prince.
This year's birthday celebration is different, so we must make preparations in advance. If it is held in the palace, we can arrange for these dancers to perform there.
The song and dance performances were innovative and even more exquisite than those of the palace's dance troupe, drawing cheers from the audience.
The Cheng and Jiang families were all in the banquet hall, along with the Zhu family, Minister Tang, Grand Commandant Qi, Minister Li, and others.
The guest list consisted mainly of officials of the fourth rank or above, along with their families, as well as princes and their wives.
Although the princes were somewhat unhappy that Xie Shang was made crown prince, it was the emperor's decision, and they had to suppress their displeasure. After all, the crown prince would be the emperor in the future, and who would dare to offend the emperor?
Given this opportunity to meet the Crown Prince, everyone would naturally bring their best daughters.
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