Chapter 518 Uncle will take you with him

On the day of the palace banquet, there was a slight chill in the air.

In front of the palace gate, there were now a large number of luxurious carriages of various colors parked.

Carriages decorated with colorful brocade or gems lined up from the palace gate all the way to the end of Chang'an Avenue.

In previous years, such a scene was only seen during the palace banquet on New Year's Eve.

However, this year's New Year's Eve is still more than a month away.

Even in winter, there were many people who came to watch the excitement. Those who knew the inside story said that the Queen Mother was raising funds for the snow disaster in Sichuan and had specially held a charity banquet. In addition to the dignitaries and noble families in the court, even ordinary merchants participated in this banquet.

It is said that among the four classes of people, scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, merchants are at the bottom. However, no one can deny that if we talk about the wealth of the world, these merchants account for half.

As the carriages drove into the palace walls one after another, the palace maids who were guarding the palace gates and were responsible for welcoming them came forward one after another.

The people mentioned in the Empress Dowager's post were basically the households in the palace, but most of the people who came down from the carriage were female relatives. After all, it was a palace banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager, and apart from other things, the mistress of the house had to be there.

When Shi Yongfan and his wife got off the carriage, he subconsciously straightened his back. Although his many years of immersion in the business world made him not as elegant as those noble families, he did not look humble either.

But as he followed the palace maids to the banquet hall, he couldn't help but glance around the palace from the corner of his eyes, but he tried his best to control his expression and not show any sign of making others look down on him.

Even so, how could a person from an aristocratic family not know the people in his circle? He could tell at a glance that these merchants smelled of copper, and he frowned subconsciously, and then asked the person next to him in a voice that he thought was obscure but not very restrained,

"What's the matter with the Queen Mother? Are you asking us to sit at the same table with these...?"

"The Queen has her own arrangements, so don't make any comments."

Although he spoke in an extremely polite manner, his expression almost showed disdain.

I don’t know if others heard this kind of “disdain”, but Shi Yongfan heard it clearly.

His face was serious, but he managed to straighten his back.

Mrs. Shi next to her naturally did not want to admit defeat, and she straightened her back. The couple both walked in front with serious expressions, as if they were not attending a palace banquet today, but rather attending court.

The two of them followed the palace maid who was leading the way without looking around until they reached a corner and saw two tall figures not far ahead.

Shi Yongfan's originally tense face suddenly became a little stiff. Even though it was just the backs of the two people, they had been studying in the same school since childhood, so there was no way he would make a mistake. He immediately pulled his wife and quickly caught up with the two people in front.

"Brother Si, Brother Si!"

Si Zhongqing suddenly heard a familiar voice, and he and Si Jinyu stopped at the same time, looking at the person who caught up with them. Si Zhongqing smiled gently.

"It turns out to be Brother Shi."

When Shi Yongfan saw Si Zhongqing and his companions, he immediately returned to his usual smart and efficient self. "I didn't expect that Brother Si also received the invitation. Is this your first time entering the palace? If you are nervous, I can guide you."

Then he looked at Si Jinyu who was standing beside him, "Is this my nephew? Don't be afraid, my nephew. You will just stay with your father. You don't need to be nervous even if you meet the emperor."

Si Jinyu smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes, nephew is not nervous."

He and the emperor had met many times on the way back.

Not nervous at all indeed.

Although they were both in Yongjing, even though the Si family had only moved to Beijing in the past two years, Shi Yongfan had heard of the eldest son of the Si family. Looking at this man now, he found that he had the same elegant demeanor as his father. Although his appearance could not be called that of a monster, he was indeed good-looking.

Comparing him with that unruly guy in his own family, he felt a little depressed for a moment, but he refused to show any of it on his face.

He also said some encouraging words to Si Jinyu, which basically meant, don't be afraid, uncle will take care of you.

Mrs. Shi, who was standing by, had long heard of this childhood friend of her husband's, but because the other's wife died early, she had never had the chance to meet her. Now that she finally saw her, she was shocked.

Master, if you don’t tell me…are they the same age?

Mrs. Shi's eyes first fell on Si Zhongqing's elegant and overly good-looking face, and his slender figure that was not out of shape at all, then she turned her head and looked at her husband's big belly...

I felt mixed emotions.

So, people cannot be compared.