Chapter 47 The Beauty Behind the Scenes, Your Imperial Sister Will Be Your Matchmaker
Among them were sons from the Sun family, Feng Qing's maternal family, as well as young masters from prominent families... A gathering of elegant ladies, and handsome young men in fine clothes everywhere.
Thanks to Yuan Jing, Yuan Yan was also present and saw this group of beautiful women.
As Yuan Yan's gaze swept across the area, the system began to introduce it to her.
[Host, look, that elegant young master is the Cui family's son, the handsome one behind him is the son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the one in green is the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue... So many noble men, I wonder which one the Prince of Qi will marry.]
Yuan Yan looked closely and immediately spotted the young master Xu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices mentioned by the system, on the opposite side of the men's seat. He was dressed in a pink and white robe, with bright eyes and white teeth, and was indeed outstanding in appearance.
In contrast, Liu Huaiyue, the son of the Minister of Revenue, appeared rather plain-looking. He merely had a fair complexion and regular features; his appearance was nowhere near that of the Third Young Master Xu.
Especially when the two happened to be sitting next to each other, the contrast between them made Liu Gongzi appear dull and lackluster, which made the feeling even more obvious.
“Yuan Jing and Feng Qing have probably already chosen their preferred candidates. This banquet is very likely just a formality. Unless there are major changes, they probably won’t change the people,” Yuan Yan said to the system.
Just then, Yuan Jing spoke with a gentle expression.
"Today, spring is in full bloom, and the peach blossoms are dazzling. Gentlemen, why not take this as inspiration to compose a poem?"
After Feng Qing's attendant whispered a few words in Yuan Jing's ear, Yuan Jing looked at the group of men present and spoke.
The young men all composed poems.
When it was Liu Gongzi's turn, the poem he recited was conventional, which only increased Yuan Jing's disappointment.
On the contrary, it was Xu San Gongzi who composed a poem that was full of inspiration and ingenuity, and immediately won Yuan Jing's favor.
Even among the talented young men of the Cui and Zheng families, he was ranked as the best.
"Young Master Xu is indeed the apple of Lord Xu's eye; this poem shows some of his mother's talent."
Yuan Jing's gaze toward Young Master Xu had changed, and he praised him in front of everyone.
"This humble man was merely inspired by the beauty of spring; Your Highness is too kind," said the Third Young Master Xu, blushing at her words. He glanced at Yuan Jing, then gently lowered his head.
This scene of mutual affection between the woman and the man was naturally witnessed by everyone.
Among the men, Sun Zhilan reacted the most, and was extremely annoyed.
Feng Qing's uncle clearly promised him that after the main minister entered the family, he would marry him off to his cousin, the Prince of Qi, as a secondary minister.
For this, Sun Zhilan dressed up specially.
Knowing that his cousin always admired talented men, he even had his poem polished. He wanted to win first place at the flower-viewing banquet and impress his cousin.
Unexpectedly, a young master Xu, who didn't know any manners, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and not only stole his thunder, but also attracted all of his cousin's attention... It was truly hateful.
Sun Zhilan secretly tugged at her handkerchief, harboring resentment towards Young Master Xu.
Not far away, Liu Huaiyue also noticed the special treatment Prince Qi gave to Young Master Xu, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Young Master Cui showed no unusual reaction. He spoke calmly with the man beside him, showing no displeasure at having his title of champion snatched away by someone else.
Yuan Yan's gaze darted back and forth between Yuan Jing and Young Master Xu. He understood immediately, a playful smile appearing on his lips before he lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
[Host, what are you laughing at?] The system asked, puzzled.
"I laughed at Feng Qing for going to great lengths to select those candidates for the position of chief minister for my eldest sister, but it seems that my eldest sister didn't like any of them..." Instead, she took a fancy to other young masters who were just there to make up the numbers.
Yuan Yan didn't say these words aloud, but her amused expression said it all.
[Host, how do you know that the Third Young Master Xu, whom Prince Qi has taken a liking to, isn't the person Feng Qing wants?]
"It's very simple. The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is a fourth-rank official. Although he holds a prestigious position, he has no real power and is far inferior to the powerful families with deep roots and the officials of the Three Departments and Six Ministries who hold important positions."
"If the eldest princess were to marry him as her principal husband, it would probably be of no benefit to her. Even if the eldest princess were willing, Feng Qing would never allow such a thing to happen."
Yuan Yan chuckled softly, his eyes filled with anticipation for the upcoming show.
Perhaps it was Yuan Yan's laughter that caught Yuan Jing's attention, and Yuan Jing finally remembered her. Reluctantly turning his gaze away from Young Master Xu, he turned to Yuan Yan and asked.
"Second sister, are there any men at this banquet that you find attractive? Tell your elder sister, and I will be your matchmaker."
Yuan Jing remained outwardly amicable. After all, Yuan Yan had been sent by the Empress Dowager, and she couldn't very well leave him standing there unattended. So she casually asked a question as a sign of concern, pretending that the previous disagreement between the two had never happened.
"Is what you say true, Eldest Sister? I have no particular opinion on the selection of the Chief Minister. Men are all the same, as long as they are good-looking. If I had to choose, I would definitely choose the most handsome one. I just don't know if Eldest Sister would be willing to give him up."
Yuan Yan deliberately cast an admiring glance at Young Master Xu, then opened his mouth to make a teasing remark.
Upon seeing this, Yuan Jing truly believed that Yuan Yan had also taken a liking to the Third Young Master Xu, and his expression froze.
“My dear sister, you jest. When choosing a husband, one should choose a virtuous one. As sisters, we should naturally choose men from noble families and of good character. How can we only look at appearance?”
Yuan Jing was naturally reluctant to part with the beauty. Seeing Yuan Yan speaking so seriously, he was afraid that she would actually ask him for the Third Young Master Xu, so he quickly brushed the matter aside.
After the banquet ended, Yuan Yan had his guards follow and keep an eye on the movements of the Third Young Master Xu, while he himself returned to the Prince's residence.
As soon as she stepped inside, Chen Lianzhou came to greet her.
He gazed gently at Yuan Yan as he helped her change her clothes, and spoke as he did so.
"Your Highness must be tired to have returned at this hour."
"I have ordered the servants to prepare a meal. I wonder if Your Highness would like to dine now?" Shen Lianzhou asked.
In order to ensure that Yuan Yan could have a hot meal as soon as he returned, he specially instructed the servants in his courtyard to keep it warm in the kitchen.
"Lianzhou is truly thoughtful and considerate; he is a virtuous and good husband."
Yuan Yan felt Shen Lianzhou's concern and couldn't help but smile. He turned to look at him and teased him slightly.
Upon hearing this, Shen Lianzhou's eyes softened, and a light blush crept onto her cheeks.
"Your Highness is busy with official duties and I can't be of much help, so I can only put my mind to these small matters."
When Yuan Yan arrived at his courtyard, the servants quickly laid out a sumptuous meal in front of her.
"Your Highness, please try this stew. It was made by the chef I brought from Tanzhou. I wonder how his skills are, and whether Your Highness finds it agreeable." Shen Lianzhou personally ladled a bowl and served it to Yuan Yan.
Yuan Yan took a bite, and indeed the flavor was rich and mellow.
"Excellent, Lianzhou has put in a lot of effort," she praised.
The father-in-law, who was serving nearby, saw this and felt somewhat gratified.
Your Highness has been lonely for so long, without a single man to care for you. These captives are bound to have shortcomings in their care, and they can never compare to the meticulous attention of a husband or servant. Your Highness has been wronged.
Fortunately, now that Shen Shuqing has entered the household, His Highness finally has a caring man to look after him.
Shen Lianzhou served Yuan Yan his meal while explaining what she had done that day.
"I have already selected a location for the shop and dispatched capable people such as the manager to the capital. Everything is going smoothly. I expect the shop will be able to open in a few days."
The location was finalized in just half a day; their efficiency is truly remarkable.
Yuan Yan's eyes revealed appreciation: "I have no worries about Lian Zhou's work."
Seeing Shen Lianzhou's demeanor as a devoted husband and virtuous wife, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
The two had just confessed their feelings and were deeply in love. Not long after their meal, Yuan Yan stopped Shen Lianzhou, who was about to get up, and pulled him into his arms.
"Zhou'er, stay with me tonight," she whispered in Shen Lianzhou's ear.
As Shen Lianzhou was embraced, her body warmed up. A blush rose on her jade-like face, and even her clear eyes were tinged with a hint of spring.
Gazing into Yuan Yan's eyes, brimming with desire, his breath quickened, and he murmured, "Your Highness..."
...
As Yuan Yan had predicted, the secret guards he sent out obtained the information within two days.
"Your Highness, Prince Qi and the Third Young Master Xu had a secret rendezvous at the birthday banquet of the Duke of Xin's father. The two spent a long time alone in the pavilion..."
"Fearing to disturb them, I dared not approach and was unable to hear what they were saying. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness," Zhuiying reported, bowing his head.
"It's alright."
Yuan Yan didn't need to listen to guess what the two were doing; it was nothing more than a young man and woman meeting privately and expressing their feelings for each other.
Even at the birthday banquet of the Duke of Xin's father, Yuan Jing couldn't resist meeting him in private, which shows how quickly their relationship has warmed up in the past few days.
"It seems this Third Young Master Xu has some tricks up his sleeve; he's already hooked up with my eldest sister so quickly." Yuan Yan smiled, pleased with the outcome.
"It's a pity that with Feng Qing around, it won't be easy for the Third Young Master Xu to marry into the Qi Prince's mansion and become the chief minister."
She shook her head with a slight sense of regret, making a silent vow in her heart.
Sure enough, not long after, Feng Qing also heard the news and discovered something amiss, so she summoned Yuan Jing to the palace.
“Jing’er, didn’t your father already discuss this with you before?”
"This time, when choosing a husband, the young master Liu from the Minister's mansion can be the chief minister. After he enters the family, your father will then arrange for your cousin Zhilan from your aunt's family to be your concubine minister."
"You're getting so close to that young man from the Xu family these days, could it be that you're planning to appoint him as the chief minister?"
Feng Qing frowned and said, "In that case, where do you intend to place the young master of the Liu family?"
"Father, do not worry, there is some misunderstanding."
Yuan Jing liked Young Master Xu, but he was still rational. Seeing his father's displeasure, he immediately denied it, saying, "Your subject has never had such thoughts."
Feng Qing did not let the matter go easily, and told her, "You may not think that way, but there are already rumors circulating outside."
"Jing'er, don't forget, His Majesty hasn't named you as the heir apparent yet, and everyone is eyeing that position. If the Xu family is chosen, what help can he offer you? Are you really going to give up your chance to seize the throne for him?"
"No, of course not."
Upon hearing the mention of the heir apparent, Yuan Jing's expression changed slightly, and his heart sank. He immediately offered his assurance.
“What you say makes sense, Father. It is I who have acted arbitrarily lately. As you say, Father, I wish to marry Lady Liu as my chief minister.”
Seeing that Yuan Jing knew she was wrong, Feng Qing's expression softened slightly, and she took a breath to comfort her.
“Jing’er, you are your father’s greatest hope, and of course your father loves you dearly. When you rise to a high position in the future, you will have no shortage of men, so why rush things now?”
"If you really like that Xu family man, you can marry Zhengqing first, and then find another opportunity to bring him into your household." Feng Qing had a well-thought-out plan.
Yuan Jing nodded in agreement and discussed with Feng Qing the matter of requesting an imperial decree to grant them a marriage, preparing to bring Young Master Liu into the mansion as soon as possible.
...
After Shen Lianzhou entered the house, Yuan Yan stayed in Shen Lianzhou's courtyard for two consecutive nights.
Shen Lianzhou is intelligent, considerate, and understanding, taking meticulous care of Yuan Yan. Virtuous, capable, and wholeheartedly devoted to his wife… what woman in this world wouldn't love such a man?
Yuan Yan was no exception. With Shen Lianzhou as her preferred concubine, she never went to Lu Lingyue's courtyard again, seemingly putting it out of her mind.
Under Shen Lianzhou's care, she quickly returned to her official duties in a better state.
The next day, after court, Yuan Yan did not return to his residence, but went directly to the market outside the academy.
[Host, this is Book Market Street. What are you doing here?] The system asked in surprise, looking at the students dressed as scholars passing by Yuan Yan.
"What are you talking about? If you come to a bookstore, what else can you do if you don't buy books?"
Yuan Yan chuckled and strolled leisurely.
Because of her heavy responsibility to revise the laws, she has spent a lot of time studying the laws of various dynasties on Blue Star these days. After finishing the materials provided by the system, she plans to come to the bookstore to buy some books on the laws of the Phoenix Kingdom.
After saying that, she lifted her foot and walked into the largest bookstore in the market.
Upon entering the bookstore, Yuan Yan saw that there were quite a few people inside, with many academy students standing below, flipping through books, but one corner of the store was rather empty.
From a distance, one could see a young man wearing a veil selecting books. Perhaps because he was the son of a wealthy family, he was surrounded by many servants, separating him from the women nearby.
The young man was dressed in a moon-white robe, his figure slender and graceful, like a bamboo shoot. His hands, white and beautiful, turned the pages of his book. He wore a plain veil, the thin gauze hanging down to his waist. As he walked, the gauze swayed gently, and a faint, delicate fragrance of orchids wafted from him.
Even without showing his face, his aura drew glances from several women nearby.
As Yuan Yan entered, a shop assistant immediately came to greet him, "What books are you looking for, sir? Would you mind helping me?"
"No matter the content, just bring some books of laws and regulations," Yuan Yan told the shop assistant.
This request is rather unusual, as few people usually come to bookstores to buy law books.
Upon hearing this, the waiter stepped forward to lead the way.
"Yes, yes, we are the biggest bookstore on Sanyuan Street. We have all the books you could want. Please follow me."
However, at that moment, upon hearing Yuan Yan's familiar voice, Young Master Na Muli suddenly had a thought.
As if he had caught something, he turned around, lifted a corner of the veil, and let out a soft, surprised and delighted call to Yuan Yan.
"Lady Lin?"
Upon hearing this special title, Yuan Yan immediately turned his gaze in the direction from which the voice came.
"Lady Lin... Thank goodness, it really is you."
The man laughed happily, his dimples blooming on his cheeks, making him look incredibly sweet and adorable.
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