Chapter 450 Who is this person looking at so intently?
The purpose of this spring banquet has always been to select a consort for the crown prince, and incidentally to facilitate matchmaking for unmarried men and women in the capital, so men and women are not completely separated.
Everyone can gather in small groups to chat, write a few lines of poetry, and some bolder ones can even pick flowers from the garden and give them to the girl they're interested in.
However, these are mostly just little tricks played between unmarried men and women; married people are mostly just there for the fun.
Even if Xiao Qingyuan likes Liu Nanshi, he can't have her. Liu Nanshi's status means she won't be his concubine!
Yuan Zheng sneered inwardly, but maintained a friendly demeanor on his face. He waved his hand at Xiao Qingyuan and said, "Qingyuan, what are you saying? How could I possibly harm Miss Liu? I didn't intend to mess with Gu Qianhan either. I was just thinking that you don't like him, so I was going to teach him a lesson for you."
"However, since you're so magnanimous as to let Gu Qianhan off the hook, I naturally won't worry about it! Let's all prioritize harmony, haha!"
“I’m going to find Gu Qianhan for a drink. He’s so pitiful. He’s sitting there all alone, and nobody’s talking to him. I’m kind-hearted, so I’ll keep him company.”
After he finished speaking, he ignored how ugly Xiao Qingyuan's expression was, picked up his wine glass and went towards Gu Qianhan, leaving Xiao Qingyuan there alone.
"A Thousand Colds".
Yuan Zheng put on a friendly demeanor: "Why didn't you come to see me and Qingyuan when you got here? We're best brothers, why are you acting so distant now?"
Gu Qianhan glanced at him indifferently, then drank her tea without paying him any attention.
Yuan Zheng seemed to have long been used to his indifference, and sat down next to him without caring. He poured himself a cup of tea, and then picked up the teapot to pour tea for Gu Qianhan.
Gu Qianhan reached out and covered the teacup: "Why have you never poured me tea before? Has the sun risen in the west today?"
Yuan Zheng smiled innocently: "It's precisely because I've never poured it before that I have to pour it now. You're covering the teacup and not letting me pour it, that's really disrespectful to me, isn't it?"
"Unsolicited kindness is either a treacherous act or a theft!"
"Hey, don't always think so badly of people. I was just being polite. If you don't want to drink, I won't pour it. Honestly, you take my kindness for granted. I wonder when you'll ever change your bad temper."
“Yuan Zheng, I’m not a fool like Xiao Qingyuan. What do you want by coming close to me? If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost.”
"Look at you, so suspicious. You treat me like a thief. We've known each other for so many years, would I ever harm you? I just wanted to check on you and find out when you're finally getting married!"
Gu Qianhan knew he was up to no good, and coldly uttered a single word: "Get lost!"
"Qianhan, I'm not trying to be mean, but you're not getting any younger, it's time to settle down! Look at me and Qingyuan, we're both married and settled, and now you're the only one left. As your brother, I'm worried about you!"
Yuan Zheng didn't take Gu Qianhan's expression seriously at all. He even leaned closer and whispered, "Do you have some kind of hidden illness? When we went to the Wan Hua Lou before, you didn't react to any of those beauties. Is that reasonable? If you're sick, you should get treatment. You can't hide your illness and avoid seeking medical help!"
"You're the one who's sick! Do you think I'm like you, with a brain only the size of a fingernail?"
"Oh dear, if you're not sick, then hurry up and get married! So many girls came to the spring banquet today, surely you don't have a single one you like?"
Gu Qianhan's icy gaze fell upon Yuan Zheng: "So you're here today to pair me up with someone? Who did you pick?"
Yuan Zheng was startled. He had laid out such a long and vague explanation, yet Gu Qianhan still managed to discover his scheme.
If Gu Qianhan finds out he's trying to harm him, he's doomed!
Yuan Zheng nervously swallowed. He gripped his teacup and casually glanced into the crowd: "I didn't pick anyone. I don't know what kind of girl you like. I just think every girl is pretty good and more than good enough for you."
Gu Qianhan's cold voice rang out: "You chose Liu Nanshi?"
Yuan Zheng was so shocked he almost dropped his teacup: "Huh? I didn't! How...how did you figure that out?"
"It seems to be Liu Nanshi."
Gu Qianhan sneered: "Did she offend you? You're so eager to shove her into my hands so she'll suffer? If you care so much about her, why don't I grant your wish and add another wife to your household!"
Yuan Zheng's forehead was covered in sweat. That damned Gu Qianhan! He only glanced at Liu Nanshi a couple of times, and Gu Qianhan noticed? He's incredibly perceptive!
He chuckled dryly and said, "Qianhan, don't joke around. I can barely handle one wife at home. If another one comes, wouldn't that be the death of me? Besides, one wife is enough for me. I am completely devoted to my wife now, so don't talk nonsense!"
Whether I say something wrong depends on whether you try to pair me up with someone else. If you don't have any ulterior motives, I naturally won't punish you.
"I wouldn't, I absolutely wouldn't! I'm the most upright person, I have absolutely no ulterior motives! Oh, Qianhan, look, isn't that your sister coming over? And the Crown Prince, and the Empress too! Quick, let's get up and greet them!"
Gu Qianhan looked up and saw that the Empress and the Crown Prince were indeed walking towards them with their entourage.
Gu Qianning was some distance away from them, clearly she came from elsewhere and just happened to run into the Crown Prince.
However, Gu Qianhan didn't look at these people; his gaze fell on Shen Wantang, who was next to Gu Qianning.
She dressed conservatively today, probably not wanting to steal the spotlight from others, so even her hairpin was a plain sapphire gold hairpin.
Gu Qianhan felt that she was the most dazzling one in the entire Imperial Garden. The sapphire paired with her azure moonlight dress made her look aloof and elegant.
She probably saw him too, but her gaze swept over him and landed on Xiao Qingyuan, who was not far from him.
Gu Qianhan frowned slightly. Was she paying so much attention to Xiao Qingyuan? Could it be that she had fallen for him?
He felt uneasy, but there was nothing he could do or do. They were husband and wife, while he was not the rightful heir.
The Empress had already begun to say some polite words as usual, announcing the official start of the Spring Banquet, but Gu Qianhan didn't hear a word. He turned his head and looked at Xiao Qingyuan.
Then he discovered that Xiao Qingyuan wasn't looking at Shen Wantang at all; the person he was looking at was Liu Nanshi.
A mocking smile appeared on Gu Qianhan's lips as he walked straight to Xiao Qingyuan's side: "Young Master Xiao, who are you looking at so intently? What, are you taking a young lady back to your palace today? You just released one concubine, and now you can't wait to add another?"
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