Chapter 64 Critical Moment
Hearing Xiao Mo's laughter, Xu Shuyao felt even more embarrassed.
Madam Xiao knocked on her eldest grandson's head and said, "Don't laugh at Yaoyao. It doesn't matter if she's like this now. You should clean yourself up tomorrow."
Xu Shuyao had heard before that the Duke's wife had sent invitations to all the young ladies of marriageable age in the capital in order to select a daughter-in-law, so she was not surprised at this time.
Of course, Old Madam Xiao was joking. With Xiao Mo's looks and family background, he was the only one who could pick on others. No one would dare to criticize him.
But Xu Shuyao still glanced at the other person.
This prince was naturally not as bulky as himself. He had taken off his cloak and was wearing a cross-collared brocade robe with a dark cloud pattern. He looked no different from before.
Xiao Mo's smile flashed, revealing his white teeth. "Cousin, are you going to see the plum blossoms tomorrow?"
Xu Shuyao: “…”
Just talk about yourself, why bring her into this?
Madam Xiao, standing by, answered for her, "Go, of course! The Duke's wife has buried some plum blossom wine in the garden, and it'll be ready tomorrow. I've tried it before; it's refreshing, sweet, and sour, and very delicious. I think you, young lady, will like it."
Old Madam Xiao didn't know the specific circumstances of the Shen family's banquet that day, but the man opposite her knew.
Xu Shuyao could feel that when the old man said this, he obviously looked at her and smiled.
However, she had to answer the old lady's words, "Okay! Then go!"
There is an abandoned garden next to the Chengguo Mansion. After it was bought by the Xiao family a few years ago, they renovated it a little and planted a large number of plum trees there.
It snowed heavily yesterday and the snow hasn't melted yet, so it's a good time to walk in the snow and appreciate the plum blossoms.
Today, not only the young ladies who received the invitations came, but even Princess Huayang came uninvited.
Wang was quite distressed when she saw this.
She thought to herself, with this person standing in the garden, who would dare to approach her son?
What made Wang feel relieved was that Xiao Mo did not avoid leaving today.
Just a glance from a distance was enough to make these young ladies feel aroused.
But because the Duke's wife was here, everyone was reluctant to be too obvious.
This time when Xu Shuyao appeared, there was not so much blatant inquiries and contempt.
Those who can attend the plum blossom viewing banquet are not ordinary people. So I got the news early.
Knowing that although she was an orphan, she was unexpectedly valued by the old lady of the mansion, and she was not someone who could be easily offended.
Even Princess Huayang started talking to her: "Which branch are you from?"
"How long have you been here?"
"Can I see the prince normally?"
…
She asked these questions one by one, and Xu Shuyao answered them one by one, but she felt that the time was quite unbearable.
The other party was a princess, so she had to answer, but she couldn't answer all of her questions either.
For example, ask her if she can usually meet the prince.
Can you see it?
Of course you can see it.
But considering the purpose of the young ladies at the banquet, Xu Shuyao could only answer that she rarely saw him and that maybe the prince wouldn't recognize her.
After she actually tasted the jar of plum wine that the old lady mentioned, she left.
Led by the wife of the Duke, the ladies walked to the left. On the surface, they were admiring the plum blossoms, but secretly they were also observing everyone's conversation and moral conduct.
Of course, what is more important is that the Duke's wife knows where her son is.
She just took a peek from a distance and she felt that it was not enough.
Wang was not worried that others would look down on Xiao Mo. She thought there were some good ladies among these ladies and wanted her son to see them up close.
Although Xiao Mo is very smart, he is not emotionally open-minded, which makes Wang very worried.
Take the maids in his courtyard, for example. Which one of them wasn't stunningly beautiful? Yet he had never touched a single one of them.
This really worried her mother.
After Xu Shuyao left the crowd, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that everyone was heading left, she walked in the opposite direction.
The snow on the ground was barely above her feet, and even when she stepped on it with her deerskin boots, it was still silent.
Occasionally, the petals and leaves could not bear the weight and made a rustling sound like falling snow.
Xu Shuyao enjoyed this rare scenery very much. She walked all the way to the end of the plum forest and saw a bamboo forest next to it.
Looking from this place, you can vaguely see a corner of the eaves.
She suddenly felt interested and walked along the path in the bamboo forest to the house.
The door was ajar and no maid was seen. Inside, there was a blazing charcoal fire and a teapot bubbling with steam.
Xu Shuyao was just about to go over to warm herself by the fire when she heard a voice coming from inside.
"Your Highness! You don't have much time left! The entire court has now surrendered to that person..."
Xu Shuyao was shocked.
Your Highness!
The eldest prince?
The Crown Prince actually made friends with the eldest prince in private!
Her mind was racing for a moment, and she hurried to look at her own position.
If she wanted to go out, she would have to pass through the half-open door, and the person inside would most likely discover her.
In order to escape more smoothly, Xu Shuyao simply told Qiao Wei and Hui Xiang to stay with the group.
If she is discovered, will she be silenced?
Thinking of Xiao Mo's previous actions, Xu Shuyao felt that it was entirely possible.
Moreover, even if he is not there, there is still the eldest prince.
He made it too easy for himself to die.
After thinking clearly about the pros and cons of the matter, Xu Shuyao quietly moved to the corner at the back, hiding herself completely behind the curtain in front of the closet.
Then check carefully to see if there is anything missing.
I even sniffed the cuffs and lapels of my clothes, but didn't smell any scent of powder.
Fortunately, she knew in advance the intention of the Duke's wife to hold this plum blossom viewing banquet. In order not to be so conspicuous, she didn't even put on perfume before going out today.
She squatted quietly in the corner, her heart pounding.
After that, something else was said inside, although the voice was very low. Even though Xu Shuyao didn't want to listen anymore, she still listened to some of it.
She also thought that the prince inside had been practicing martial arts since he was a child, and he might have discovered her existence a long time ago.
And the guards beside him who would disappear at any time might be hiding somewhere at this moment, watching her silently.
Xu Shuyao was suddenly filled with sadness.
If I leave, what will happen to my younger brother?
There are also Nanny Zheng, Qiaowei and Huixiang in Jiyunzhai.
Nanny Zheng's bag of money hasn't been delivered to her son yet.
Qiaowei and Huixiang, who make a living between herself and their aunt, also have high hopes for her as their master.
…
Time seemed to stretch out, and after a while, someone finally came out.
Xu Shuyao's heart beat faster. She felt the two of them part at the door, and then that person...
Back again!
And stopped in front of the curtain.
Suddenly her body felt lighter and she was picked up.
The man's bony hands slid across her neck, cold and without a trace of warmth, just like his eyes at that moment.
Xu Shuyao's eyes widened, and she wanted to say something at this last moment.
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