But Liu's family was even more disgusting.
Her eyes met Qian Shengyan's, and she let out a affected "Oh!" while covering her mouth with her hand, feigning surprise, "The concubine's attire today..."
She stamped her foot again: "Oh dear, what am I going to do! It's too late for me to go back and change my clothes!"
With tears welling in her eyes, Madam Liu looked at Qian Shengyan with a pitiful expression: "The concubine shouldn't mind, right..."
Qian Shengyan sneered: "It doesn't matter, sister, do as you please."
After saying that, she called Qingxue over to watch over things, and then she took Green Willow and Green Smoke and turned to board the small boat, heading towards Wanfang Anhe West Side Hall.
She wouldn't tolerate Liu's disgusting behavior!
Returning to Wanfang Anhe and changing clothes before coming out again, no matter how fast you go, it will be too late.
Qian Shengyan hurriedly entered the pavilion and curtsied to Yinzhen and Ulanara, who were sitting in the main seats, saying, "I am late, please punish me, Your Highness and Consort."
Before Ulanara could say anything, Yinzhen waved his hand and said, "It's alright, it's not late, please sit down."
After he said that, Ulanara had nothing to say, and could only smile and say, "The time is not yet here, look how anxious my sister is, her forehead is covered in sweat."
Qian Shengyan smiled and responded, then looked up at the seating arrangement and noticed that there was an empty seat next to Yinzhen.
She didn't say anything, got up and sat down, then turned her head and gave Yinzhen a slight smile.
Yinzhen also looked back at her gently.
This scene was witnessed by Lady Nian, who was sitting next to Lady Ulanara. She immediately clenched her fists, and her already bad mood worsened.
Hmph, logically speaking, as a secondary consort, she should be sitting on either side of Yinzhen, one on each side of Ulanara. But Qian Shengyan arranged for her to sit next to Ulanara?!
How shameless! Arriving late is one thing, but she even specially reserved a spot for herself next to the Prince. She's just a lowly concubine, born a lowly maid...
Thinking of this, Lady Nian glared fiercely at Lady Liu beside her.
She was a useless person, and she tried to find a way to annoy Qian Shengyan, but what happened? Nothing came of it.
Liu was originally watching the interaction between Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan, and was so jealous that she was going crazy. After receiving the signal from Nian's eyes (?), she felt like she had a backer. She laughed and suddenly stood up, throwing a flirtatious look at Yinzhen and said, "Your Highness, this servant would like to offer Your Highness a cup of wine, wishing Your Highness all the best."
Just as she was about to tilt her head back and finish the wine, she heard Ulanara say indifferently, "You haven't even had a bite of food yet, why are you drinking wine? Your Highness should have some porridge first to fill your stomach before drinking."
Yinzhen responded, while Liu Shi, holding her cup, didn't know what to do.
"Sit down and eat first." Madam Nian was exasperated, feeling that Madam Liu was utterly useless except for causing her distress!
Just as the banquet began, someone came to report that Consort Li was causing a scene in the courtyard, begging the Prince to grant her a meeting with the Third Prince.
Hongshi, who was sitting next to Yinzhen and was delighted to be the leader, suddenly stood up, but then remembered something and looked at Yinzhen timidly. He didn't sit down, but just looked at him with a pleading expression.
Yinzhen pursed his lips and said nothing. Qian Shengyan leisurely picked up some food, and even Ulanara lowered her head to drink her porridge, as if she hadn't heard anything.
After a moment, Lady Nian spoke with a smile: "It is indeed a festive occasion like the Lantern Festival. Why not allow Consort Li to come out and have a meal together? After all, we are all family..."
“Father…” Hongshi called out softly, “Son, son can go to Ritian Linyu by himself.”
"We'll go after we finish eating. You can stay at Ritian Linyu tonight and return to Xifeng Xiuse before tomorrow night," Yinzhen said calmly.
This means he's allowed to stay at Li's place for the whole day!
Hongshi immediately perked up: "Thank you, Father!"
Hearing this, Geng, who was sitting between Liu and Guo, could no longer sit still. She looked at Yinzhen with anticipation in her eyes, and then glanced at Hongzhou sitting at the children's table next to her. She hesitated to speak but did not dare to. After a while, Qian Shengyan said, "I would like to invite Hongli to come back and stay for one night as well."
"Hmm." Yinzhen nodded, then looked at the children over there. "Hongzhou, go to a place of tranquility as well."
Before the children could react, Geng jumped up in surprise and quickly bowed, saying, "This servant thanks Your Highness," and then looked sincerely at Qian Shengyan, "and also thanks the concubine."
"No need." Qian Shengyan smiled faintly, raised her glass in a gesture, and Geng quickly picked up her glass and drank it all in one gulp. She then sat down with a silly grin, unable to stop looking at Hongzhou.
Seeing her like this, Qian Shengyan's eyes flickered slightly, then she smiled again. She filled her wine cup and poured one for Yinzhen: "This concubine toasts Your Highness."
"Okay." Yinzhen didn't refuse at all, smiled, clinked glasses with her, and drank.
After Qian Shengyan started the conversation, everyone at the table toasted Yinzhen. Because it was a festival, Yinzhen didn't hold back and drank almost every cup.
Perhaps because he was too easy to talk to today, Liu couldn't sit still anymore. After Guo finished toasting, she stood up again and looked at Yinzhen with seductive eyes: "I was the one who toasted Your Highness first, but Your Highness didn't respond. You still owe me a cup of wine."
Yinzhen didn't even look up or acknowledge her. Liu stood there for a moment, probably feeling awkward, then suddenly turned her wine cup slightly and smiled at Qian Shengyan, saying, "Consort, this servant toasts you."
Qian Shengyan: ...
Qian Shengyan didn't want to pay any attention to her. This Liu was strange. She was dignified and beautiful, but she always did things that were unexpected. However, Yinzhen had already given her no face, so Qian Shengyan couldn't continue to embarrass her.
Just as she was about to stand up, she heard Liu continue, "Speaking of which, don't I look somewhat like the concubine?"
Qian Shengyan: ?
She slowly sat back down, having already lifted her buttocks, and put down her wine glass. She just stared at Liu, wondering what other tricks the other woman would come up with.
“This servant and the concubine are really destined to meet. We didn’t even discuss it today, but we just happened to be wearing the same clothes…” Liu chuckled a few times, then looked back at Yinzhen. “Your Highness, look, this servant and the concubine have the same hairstyle.”
Yinzhen only glanced at Qian Shengyan before noticing her clothes—what she was going to wear had been chosen the night before, and he had been there at the time.
No wonder he glanced at Liu Shi when she came over and felt something was off; now he knows why.
Yinzhen sneered: "You certainly know how to pick clothes."
He meant it as a sarcastic remark, but Liu became delighted: "Yes, Your Highness, I personally went to Xianniang's shop to choose the pattern and style!" Her eyes darted around, and she even tried to get someone to compare it to, "The dress that Sister Guo is wearing was also chosen by me!"
Yinzhen glanced at Guo Shi, whose face was slightly flushed, whether from embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell.
He nodded slightly, but said, "Guo's clothes are suitable, but yours are not."
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