She was the first one to arrive.
Yan Nangui asked with a smile, "Does Your Highness want the truth or a lie?"
“…Listen to them all,” Shu Chengfeng said.
"I just want Your Highness to see what I look like in my finest attire, and I want Your Highness to be the first to see me."
"As for me, I was thinking that since I was going to see my ex-husband, I had to put on a good face and not let Your Highness lose face."
She didn't say which statement was true and which was false.
Just as Shu Chengfeng was about to ask, Murong Liangyuan and Su Liangdi arrived, and the two met at the door.
They were all dressed in their finest attire.
Today, Consort Murong wore an ivory-white dress, exuding unparalleled elegance. Consort Su was also dressed in red, but unlike Yan Nangui, hers was a solid color.
After the three exchanged greetings, the Crown Princess also arrived.
After another round of greetings, it was time to head out.
Five carriages left the Crown Prince's residence and headed towards the palace in a grand procession.
Today's banquet was naturally held in the Beichen Hall.
The women no longer need to go to the inner palace; they can come directly here.
However, they were not allowed to enter through the main gate, so they all entered through other gates. Thus, they parted ways with the Crown Prince.
Only the Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager, Crown Prince, and Crown Princess can pass through the main gate.
As everyone gathered at Beichen Hall, Yan Nangui soon met the Princess, her two daughters, and the old lady in a side hall.
On this occasion, the old lady is naturally entitled to come. The reason she didn't come before was because she chose not to, not because she wasn't qualified.
The Crown Princess and the Eldest Princess naturally had to pay their respects.
Logically, everyone should pay their respects to the Crown Princess, but since she is an elder, the Eldest Princess also has to pay her respects.
Even if you're unwilling, you have to do something to show your appreciation, and everyone just avoids the situation.
After everyone paid their respects, Princess Jiamin looked at Yan Nangui and smiled, "It's been a long time, elder sister, you look radiant."
Yan Nangui smiled and greeted the old lady, "Greetings, Grandmother."
"My fourth sister is now a princess, and she is just as radiant."
"Oh right, my third sister too." She said the last sentence very casually.
Although Yan Jinsi had reconciled with her mother on the surface, she still harbored resentment in her heart.
Hearing this seemingly casual remark at this moment was incredibly upsetting.
However, due to his position, he couldn't say much.
Soon, the time was almost up, and everyone was about to take their seats.
After leaving the side hall, we went to the main hall and took our seats to wait for His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Crown Prince.
The princes and concubines of the harem also arrived.
At this time, there were still a few VIP seats occupied by the families of several princes whom the guests were not familiar with.
Those princes are probably still talking with His Majesty, and they'll likely come together soon.
About fifteen minutes later, the eunuchs outside announced that His Majesty had arrived.
Everyone quickly got up and knelt down.
The Empress supported the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince followed the Emperor, and several princes followed behind.
After everyone paid their respects, His Majesty waved his hand to signal them to rise and then invited them to take their seats.
The banquet then officially began.
Meng Junxian naturally sat next to Yan Jinsi, while Yan Jinsi sat behind the Princess, which was also a relatively forward position.
It was also right across from the Crown Prince's family.
Yan Nangui sat to the right rear of the Crown Prince.
It's so obvious that you can see it at a glance.
In fact, he had already seen it when Yan Nangui and the other women came in.
From the first glance, I knew that woman was completely different.
Her appearance...
Actually, he knew before that Yan Nangui wasn't unattractive; she just didn't know how to dress herself.
She is clearly very beautiful, but she always wears plain clothes.
She overemphasizes elegance, and her tastes are hard to describe; they're mostly things that are plain white.
She clearly has a fiery temper, but she insists on acting all weak and vulnerable...
He knew very well that this was the mindset that the eldest princess had deliberately instilled in her, telling her that this kind of woman was the right one.
Even Yan Nangui herself said that her mother was like that.
As for whether it was true or not, Meng Junxian said he had never seen it, but it certainly wasn't in such a pretentious way.
But now, where can you see even the slightest hint of affectation in Yan Nangui?
Every part of her outfit was exquisite and perfectly proportioned.
If in the past an eight-point appearance was reduced to three points, now it's like a ten-point appearance being made into a twelve-point one.
It's truly touching.
Today is naturally the day for the princes.
We toasted everyone, all expressing our deepest gratitude. We were so moved that the Emperor had asked us to come back for the festival, we couldn't stop crying...
Yan Nangui listened while drinking tea.
Suddenly turning around, Yan Nangui noticed the gaze directed at him from the opposite side. He put down his teacup and gave him a sarcastic smile.
Meng Junxian suddenly lowered his head.
Yan Jinsi, who was standing beside her, didn't see it, but the maid standing behind her did.
It is longing.
Thinking back now, Xiangsi realized that Meng Junxian had truly been blind. He had mistaken a pearl for a fish eye, and now he was destined to spend his life with a fish eye.
After several rounds of drinks, the Prince of Nan'an suddenly looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Your Highness is now surrounded by beauties, which truly makes this old man very happy."
The Prince of Nan'an was the fourteenth brother of the late emperor.
Even His Majesty has to call him Uncle.
"Uncle is joking," Shu Chengfeng said with a shake of his head and a smile.
"I heard that among your group of wives and concubines, there is one who is remarried? Is she... General Yan's daughter?"
Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent for a moment.
"Exactly," Shu Chengfeng replied, his expression unchanged.
"Which one is it?" the Prince of Nan'an asked again.
Yan Nangui rose and said, "This concubine, Yan Shi, pays her respects to the Prince of Nan'an."
"Oh, it's you? You certainly have your mother's charm." The Prince of Nan'an squinted at him for a while; he was old, and his eyesight was failing.
"Thank you for your kind words, Prince of Nan'an," Yan Nangui said with grace and poise.
“Yes, today she is a concubine in the Crown Prince’s residence, tomorrow she will be a concubine in the palace. You should know the rules,” said the Prince of Nan’an.
Yan Nangui knew perfectly well that this was definitely not directed at her.
So she said, “Your Highness, please rest assured, although I am a second wife, I had a proper divorce from my first husband’s family. Before the divorce, I had never met His Highness the Crown Prince. My aunt has some connections with Her Majesty the Empress, and she helped me obtain a roof over my head.”
"Although I am a second-time wife, I have always been upright and honest, and I have nothing to hide from others. I can withstand scrutiny."
"Hahaha! Excellent! As expected of the granddaughter of the Duke of Lan! You do indeed have a bit of your grandfather's style!" The Prince of Nan'an laughed. "Very good. Oh dear, this old man is getting old. I was just afraid you would cause a bad reputation. Wouldn't that tarnish the Crown Prince's reputation? Since you haven't met before, it's because this old man was presumptuous. After all, you are a member of the Crown Prince's family. Come, come, let this old man toast you. Your grandfather and I are acquainted, we're of the same generation. You are like my granddaughter."
"Thank you, Prince of Nan'an. I'd like to offer you a toast," Yan Nangui said with a smile, bowing and raising her wine cup.
The Prince of Nan'an kept mentioning names, referring to Shu Chengfeng, which was a slap in the face to the person sitting at the head of the table.
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