Chapter 93 Banquet
The Queen sent word that all the unengaged girls from the fourth-rank officials' families should attend the event. Chen Tang was unengaged, so it was reasonable for her to go.
But this palace banquet was held for the selection of a princess for the Prince of Ning. Old Prince Ning asked for Chen Tang's hand in marriage on behalf of his grandson Xiao Huan, but Shen Sui politely declined. Chen Tang would definitely not marry Xiao Huan, so there was no need for her to go to the palace banquet. More importantly, Chen Tang was plotted against by Concubine Ye and Princess Cheng'an a few days ago, and she was still in shock. Ginkgo didn't want Chen Tang to enter the palace again from the bottom of her heart.
Chen Tang didn't want to enter the palace either, but she still wanted to find an opportunity to ask Xiao Huan if he had a birthmark. Since it was a banquet held for Xiao Huan to select a princess, Xiao Huan would definitely go, and Chen Tang didn't want to miss such a good opportunity.
But Chen Tang didn't hesitate, because she had no choice at all, "My grandmother and father wouldn't let me go."
That's right. It's impossible that the Marquis and the old lady knew that the girl was being targeted by Concubine Ye, and still let the girl go to the palace where people were eaten without spitting out bones. Ginkgo was relieved, "With such a good opportunity, the second wife and the eldest girl will definitely take the opportunity to return home..."
Even if there is no opportunity, you have to find ways to create one to return home. What's more, it is such a good opportunity. I am afraid that he is already on the way home.
Just as Chen Tang guessed, as soon as the Second Madam received the news that the palace was going to hold a banquet and the Queen was inviting officials of the fourth rank and above to bring their unengaged daughters to attend, she immediately had people pack up and return home.
Although the palace banquet was in three days, it was impossible for the Second Wife and her companions to enter the palace directly from Jingci Temple. They could only come back two days in advance.
It was with great difficulty that they were allowed to go to Jingci Temple for self-reflection, but they ended up returning early after only a few days of reflection. It was called reflection, but Shen Xi went to the street to view lanterns and sent her cousin to the examination hall. How could this be considered self-reflection?
The reflection was perfunctory, but it was not without effect. When the second wife and Shen Xian came back this time, they did not dare to instigate the old lady to let her enter the palace. Shen Xian and Shen Ran attached great importance to this palace banquet. Shen Tang went to pay her respects a while later, but they were nowhere to be seen.
But in the end, Chen Tang still went to the palace for the banquet.
The weather was fine on the day of the palace banquet. After breakfast, Chen Tang went to Songhe Hall to pay his respects to the old lady as usual. When he walked around the screen, he saw Chen Xian and Shen Ran chatting and laughing around the old lady. They both dressed very carefully, looking dignified, pretty and graceful.
The second wife's dress was not like that of a fourth-rank official's wife, but rather like that of a marquis's wife.
The old lady warned Shen Xian and Shen Ran, "In the palace, you must not walk around casually, and you must be careful in what you say and do."
The two of them agreed obediently.
When the maid came in to report that the carriage was ready, the Second Wife prepared to take them into the palace. Chen Luo could only watch. The Third Master was a fifth-rank official, so Chen Luo was not qualified to enter the palace. Moreover, with her status, entering the palace would only be for fun.
Just as the Second Madam stood up, a maid came in and said, "Old Madam, the Queen Mother heard that the Second Young Lady is good at sword dancing and wants to meet her. Concubine Ye heard from the Second Madam a few days ago that you were not feeling well, so she sent a royal doctor to see you."
The old lady did not show any honor at all for Concubine Ye's concern, but rather a bit of coldness on her face.
Concubine Ye sent the imperial physician not because she cared about the old lady, but because she was afraid that Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion would use the excuse that Chen Tang was unwell to prevent Chen Tang from entering the palace. to turning a deaf ear to the Queen's words.
老夫人知道叶贵妃不是平远侯府能得罪的起的，可就算揍昌平侯世子的男子就是想娶他们平远侯府姑娘的人，也没有叶贵妃这样柿子捡软的捏的，他们平远侯府就这么好欺负是吗？ !
The old lady clenched the Buddhist beads in her hand angrily, and Chen Tang said, "Grandma, please let me enter the palace."
She could avoid the first day, but she couldn't avoid the fifteenth. The Queen Mother asked her to enter the palace, so she pretended to be sick to avoid it today. She would still have to go when she recovered.
Since she can't hide, she can at least see Xiao Huan if she goes to the palace today, but that may not be the case next time.
The old lady also knew what Concubine Ye was going to do, and no one could stop her. But when she thought about how Chen Tang was accused of bumping into Princess Cheng'an and breaking a porcelain vase bestowed by the emperor when he entered the palace last time, and how he was almost punished to kneel for three hours, the old lady was still frightened.
Chen Tang said, “Grandma, I will be careful.”
It's not enough to just be careful.
The only thing that comforted the old lady was that the person who liked Chen Tang had great respect in the eyes of the emperor. If anything happened to Chen Tang, the emperor would protect him for the sake of that person.
Chen Xi also said, "Grandma, just let my second sister go. After entering the palace, I will accompany her wherever she goes."
No, it would be fine if Chen Xi didn't accompany her, but if she did, she would definitely die faster.
However, Chen Tang knew that Chen Xi said this just to get the old lady to let her enter the palace so that she could be bullied by Concubine Ye. As for accompanying her, it would be impossible even if the sun rose from the west.
The old lady looked at the second wife and said, "Tang'er will come to the palace with you. Take good care of her. If anything happens to Tang'er in the palace, I will only ask you for help."
Chen Tang was wearing a dress with a lake blue cloud pattern and orchid embroidery today. It was about new, so she would not lose face in the Marquisate when she went to the palace for the banquet. However, the hair accessories on her head were a bit simple, and it would take too much time to go back to Qingyi Garden to get them. So the old lady ordered the maid, "Bring me the pair of gold and sapphire hairpins in my dressing box."
After a while, the maid brought the hairpin and the old lady inserted it into Chen Tang's hair bun and said, "It's really good."
Chen Tang said, "Thank you, Grandmother, for the reward."
Chen Xi was so angry that she tightened the embroidered handkerchief in her hand.
In the past month or two, the old lady has been rewarding Chen Tang one after another, and has never given her anything good. Her grandmother's heart is really biased towards Chen Tang. After returning from the palace banquet, she will have to think of a way to win back her grandmother's heart.
When they arrived at the gate of the Marquis' Mansion, the carriage was already waiting there. Neither Chen Tang nor Shen Xi wanted to ride in the same carriage with the other, but they were both daughters of the eldest son and had twins in the same pregnancy, so they had to be tied up together.
All the way into the palace, the two of them pretended that the other did not exist and did not say a word.
They entered the palace unimpeded and stopped at the horse-racing ground. Chen Tang sat outside and got off the carriage first.
But Chen Tang didn't expect that as soon as she got out of the carriage, she would see Xie Guimo. He was riding on a horse, handsome and noble.
Since the day Chen Tang told Xie Guimo about his rebirth and Xie Guimo jumped out of the window and left, they haven't seen each other since.
Eyes met.
Chen Tang felt as if his heart was pierced by a needle.
The pain spread throughout her body. She looked away and stepped out of the carriage.
…
On this side, Chen Tang got off the carriage, and on the other side, Xie Guimo also got off the horse, and Princess Jingyang came out of the sedan chair.
Seeing many ladies from wealthy families walking forward, she told Xie Guimo, "If you don't let your mother choose a consort for you, then you should be more careful and choose a girl you like so that your mother can propose marriage to you. Don't delay your lifelong event any longer."
When Princess Jingyang said this, Shen Tang and Shen Xi happened to pass by, and they had different expressions.
Chen Tang felt heartbroken, and Chen Ying tore the embroidered handkerchief in her hand with an extremely ugly look on her face. Such a good marriage was ruined by her. It would have been fine if the Prince of Jingyang had died, but he was still alive and well. She didn't know how many people laughed at her behind her back for letting the duck fly away.
The maid led the way and took them to the imperial garden.
The imperial garden was full of spring, with innumerable exotic flowers and plants. However, what was more eye-catching were the ladies dressed in their best clothes. Although today was not a selection of a concubine for the prince, but only a selection of a princess consort for the Prince of Ning, the status of the Prince of Ning was not much lower than that of the prince, and the future status of an ordinary prince might not be as high as that of the Prince of Ning.
Old Prince Ning is the Emperor's biological uncle and holds a high status. The Prince of Ning is the only remaining heir. It can be said that as long as the Prince of Ning does not murder the Emperor or commit treason in the future, he will enjoy endless wealth and glory for the rest of his life.
The Prince of Ning is not only of noble status, but also handsome and talented. It is not enough to describe him as being both civil and martial. If you can marry him, you will wake up smiling in your dreams. Yet there are people who refuse. Only a very arrogant person can do such a thing. The whole Imperial Garden is talking about it.
As soon as Chen Tang entered the imperial garden, countless eyes fell on her, looking her up and down from head to toe, and from toe to head.
If someone else rejected a marriage proposal, everyone would be surprised, but when it came to Shen Tang, it seemed less surprising. After all, it was not the first time that Shen Tang rejected a marriage proposal.
If she had not refused the marriage proposal, she would have been the Crown Prince's Consort of Jingyang Prince by now.
She won't marry the Prince of Jingyang, nor the Prince of Ning. Who will the second daughter of Pingyuan Marquis marry? The prince?
A lady from a wealthy family said sarcastically, "Prince Ning saved her on the street. If old Prince Ning doesn't propose marriage, wouldn't that be a bad thing? Marquis Pingyuan refused the marriage because he knew his daughter was not worthy of Prince Ning. Prince Ning is the only one left in the Ning Palace. If something bad happens to him, the Pingyuan Palace can't afford it."
"Why is she always being rescued..."
When these people talk about her, could they please speak a little more quietly? It would be fine if they just talked about her, but they also let her hear it.
Do you think she likes being rescued? She is in danger of her life when she goes out for a walk. She may be hit by a wine jar while walking on the road. She almost gets a toothache when she doesn't drink water.
In her previous life, she married Xie Guimo, and people said she was not worthy of him. In this life, she didn't marry him, and people said she was too arrogant. Fortunately, she didn't care much about what others said, otherwise she would be so angry.
Moreover, Chen Tang didn't care what others said about her. Concubine Ye had deliberately wanted her to enter the palace. God knew what trap she had dug for her. She had to be on high alert.
Not knowing where the trap was, Chen Tang simply adopted the strategy of remaining unchanged. When he arrived at the Imperial Garden, he found a pavilion to sit down. He did not participate in any games such as pitching pots, flying kites, or catching people with blindfolds, nor did he get close to them. He just sat in the pavilion without drinking tea or eating cakes.
Chen Tang, "..."
I'm almost having paranoia.
Chen Tang was bored, but luckily she didn't have any friends. She sat in the pavilion for a quarter of an hour, and Princess Roujia of Prince Duan's Mansion came over.
Princess Roujia asked kindly, "Why is Sister Chen Tang sitting here? Aren't you going to play?"
Chen Tang smiled and said, "It's good to watch from here."
Princess Roujia sat down and said, "I came to thank Sister Chen Tang."
Chen Tang looked at her, "Thank me for what?"
Princess Roujia whispered, "Thanks to the prescription sent by Sister Chen Tang. If it weren't for Sister Chen Tang thinking about me, I might not be able to enter the palace today."
Although she would definitely not marry Xiao Huan, who was her cousin, she liked the hustle and bustle. Everyone else could go to the palace for banquets, but she was the only one stuck in the mansion, half dead, which was so boring.
She thought Shen Tang would not come to the palace today, but knowing that Shen Tang was here, she was grateful and would definitely come over to thank him. She didn't know how to thank Shen Tang.
In the past, she would be in excruciating pain when she had her period. This time, after taking the medicine ten times, although it still hurts a little, it is much better than before. The imperial physician said that if she continues to take the medicine for a few more months, she will not feel any pain as long as she pays attention to keeping warm.
Chen Tang didn't expect that Princess Roujia would go to the Marquis' Mansion to thank her for just one prescription, and now she is thanking her again. She smiled and said, "The princess is too formal with me."
Princess Roujia smiled, with dimples on the corners of her mouth. She rested her elbows on the stone table and looked at Chen Tang's face. Chen Tang thought there was something dirty on his face, so he raised his hand to wipe it, "What's wrong with my face?"
Princess Roujia said sadly, "Why don't you marry the Prince of Jingyang or the Prince of Ning?"
Not to mention her eldest brother, he simply couldn't get a number. Fortunately, her eldest brother stopped her mother from proposing marriage a few months ago, otherwise her eldest brother would be another person who was rejected by Sister Chen Tang.
Chen Tang said, "I am not worthy of them."
Princess Roujia didn't believe it, "It's obvious that you don't want to marry them."
The bridal sedan from Prince Jingyang's Mansion had already gone to Marquis Pingyuan's Mansion to pick up the bride, but it was sent back empty. If it weren't for Sister Chen Tang's gentle temperament, she would really suspect that she was too picky and looked down on Prince Jingyang.
Princess Roujia came close to Chen Tang and asked in a low voice, "They all said that you had a better marriage, so you didn't marry the Prince of Ning. Is that true?"
Chen Tang, "..."
Chen Tang felt that he was dazzled by the gossipy light emanating from Princess Roujia's face.
Could you please not be so curious?
There are not many ladies from wealthy families that she has a good relationship with, and she really doesn't want to lie to her.
Chen Tang said awkwardly, “It's true, but I rejected it a few days ago.”
Princess Roujia: "..."
Princess Roujia's eyes widened, and then widened again, "Didn't the emperor know about this marriage?"
Chen Tang laughed, "Even if the emperor grants a marriage, there is still a possibility of cancelling it. What's more, the emperor just knows about it and doesn't come to propose marriage. Isn't this matter over?"
Princess Roujia said, "I'm really curious about who you will marry."
She won't marry anyone.
However, Chen Tang did not say this out loud. She would rather die alone than marry the Prince of Jingyang or the Prince of Ning. This would not make people suspect that she was mentally ill.
Princess Roujia sat with Chen Tang for a long time, and Chen Tang felt a little sorry, "Princess, you don't have to accompany me."
Princess Roujia said, "It's lively over there, don't you want to go take a look?"
Shen Tang shook his head, "I won't go."
Chen Tang was not determined to go, and Princess Roujia did not force him, so she led her maid out of the pavilion.
But as soon as they left, a palace maid came over and said, "Second Miss Shen, the Queen Mother wants to see you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
