Chapter 186 Flower Viewing Banquet
The flower-viewing banquet at the princess's mansion was bigger than Chunxi had imagined, and there were more female guests invited than Chunxi had imagined.
Chunxi set out a little late and was stuck in traffic two streets away from the princess's mansion. When she arrived, the outside of the princess's mansion was already full of carriages.
However, the servants in the princess's mansion were obviously very experienced in dealing with such matters. They led the guests into the mansion in an orderly manner, and then led the coachman to drive the carriage from the back door into the stables in the mansion to rest.
Chunxi was the last one in the crowd to enter the princess's mansion.
The Princess's Mansion was built under the supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The mansion is spacious, and the eaves and roofs are all exquisitely designed. The garden scenery in the house is also carefully designed. There is a scene at every step and a painting at every window. When you enter the garden, you will see clusters of flowers.
Chrysanthemums of various varieties are in full bloom in the garden, colorful and no less beautiful than the spring scenery.
It was Chunxi's first time to visit the princess's residence, and also her first time to appreciate flowers as a guest, so she couldn't help but take a few more glances.
She was looking at a layer of pink chrysanthemums carefully when she heard a soft voice calling her, "Sister-in-law."
Following the sound, Chunxi turned around and saw Shen Qingchi's tearful face.
After not seeing her for a while, she seemed to have become thinner, with traces of tears on her face. She was surprisingly similar to Mo Yunwan in Xuzhou, weak and sad, very pitiful.
There were many guests in the garden, and Shen Qingchi's crying attracted many people to look over.
"I came here to enjoy the flowers at the princess's invitation. I haven't caused any trouble to you. Why are you crying so sadly? I didn't see you come home to mourn at my mother's funeral. What's the point of you crying to me now? If someone didn't know, they would think I had done something to you."
Shen Qingchi cried in public for no apparent reason, but Chunxi couldn't take the blame. She raised her voice and cleared herself of any responsibility.
Feeling the strange looks from everyone, Shen Qingchi quickly wiped away his tears and explained in a low voice: "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry, it's just that I haven't seen you for a long time, and I couldn't help it."
Shen Qingchi was accompanied by a small, round-faced maidservant who said, "The master's life in the mansion is very difficult. It's so hard for him to see his family. Madam, it really hurts the master's heart to say this."
Chunxi felt no guilt at all.
She was just telling the truth, how could it be hurtful?
It wasn't her who forced Shen Qingchi to go to the Taifu Mansion to be a concubine, but how could a concubine show up in the Princess's Mansion?
Just as Chunxi was beginning to feel doubtful, Shen Qingchi scolded the maid and then explained, "I am pregnant, and my husband has made me his legal wife. That's why I can come to the princess's mansion for the banquet today."
As Shen Qingchi spoke, he touched his belly, which had not yet shown any signs of pregnancy. A loving smile appeared on his face, and he looked at Chunxi expectantly, perhaps hoping that Chunxi would like this unborn child a little.
Chunxi couldn't say congratulations, but took a step back to distance herself from Shen Qingchi: "Since Madam is pregnant, she should stay away from the crowd. This is not the place for Madam to join in the fun."
Chunxi's backward movement hurt Shen Qingchi. The smile on her face froze and her eyes became red again: "Sister-in-law, I already know I was wrong. It was all my fault back then. Can you forgive me?"
Shen Qingchi was about to kneel down when he spoke, but Chunxi quickly shouted, "My dear sister, in public, you should just keep talking, but don't kneel down. Mother has been gone for so long and you haven't even knelt down to see her off. I can't stand this."
The things that happened in the deep mansion could not be explained in a few words, so Chunxi could only focus on the fact that Shen Qingchi did not go home to keep vigil for Mrs. Mo.
Everyone originally thought that Chunxi, as the eldest sister-in-law, was very cold and seemed to be bullying her younger sister-in-law, but when they heard that Shen Qingchi did not even kneel or cry when his mother died, they immediately stood on Chunxi's side.
How can a person who doesn't even attend his own mother's funeral be a good person?
Shen Qingchi bit his lip secretly.
She didn't expect to meet Chunxi in the princess's mansion today. She wanted to pretend to admit her mistake and force Chunxi to forgive her by relying on the many people outside, but she didn't expect Chunxi to refuse.
Seeing that everyone's eyes were getting more and more hostile, Shen Qingchi had no choice but to give up kneeling. With red eyes, he said, "I know my sister-in-law won't forgive me easily, but time will tell. She will know that I have truly repented."
After Shen Qingchi finished speaking, he bowed and went to the other side with the maid.
Chunxi did not stop and followed the maid to find Princess Hengyang.
Princess Hengyang had already played two rounds of flying flowers. When she saw Chunxi arrive, she immediately left the others and sat with Chunxi in the pavilion, complaining non-stop, "Why are you here so late? I thought your husband Shen didn't want you to come."
"My husband is not such a stingy person. He has already taken Ah Li as his personal attendant. I just blocked him outside, and after entering the mansion, I ran into my sister-in-law and talked to her for a few words, which delayed him for a while."
Princess Hengyang teased Chunxi a few more times, then asked, "What did your sister-in-law want to talk to you about?"
Chunxi briefly explained Shen Qingchi's situation. Princess Hengyang raised an eyebrow after hearing this: "Your sister-in-law was humiliated in such a way, yet she offered herself to be a concubine. In such a short time, she was promoted to the wife's wife. It seems she has some ability. Now that she has turned over a new leaf, she is not going to take revenge on you, is she?"
Chunxi was not sure either.
When she first met Shen Qingchi, she thought he was timid but kind-hearted. But now she can no longer see through Shen Qingchi.
Chunxi didn't respond, and Princess Hengyang didn't continue the topic. She asked someone to prepare some fruit wine and brought it over, and she and Chunxi drank cup by cup.
Princess Hengyang was a good drinker. Seeing Chunxi chugging down cup after cup without changing her expression, she felt delighted. "I have a lot of good wine hidden in my house, but I've always had no one to drink with. I see you can drink quite well. Come to my house more often to drink with me."
Chunxi nodded in agreement. After a few more drinks, Princess Hengyang suddenly asked her in a low voice, "Have you noticed that many people have been secretly looking at me today?"
Chunxi was quite sensitive to these gazes and nodded when she heard this: "The princess is extremely beautiful today, it's normal for them to want to take a second look."
Chunxi's praise was sincere.
Princess Hengyang was dressed in gorgeous clothes today, with two blooming chrysanthemums pinned on her hair. She looked noble, beautiful, and graceful.
Princess Hengyang burst into laughter after hearing this, and suddenly there were more prying eyes.
Princess Hengyang didn't care at all and hugged Chunxi: "Didn't your old Shen tell you anything?"
"say what?"
Chunxi was at a loss.
Princess Hengyang liked her reaction very much and laughed for a long time before speaking, "The Prince Consort's favorite is coming back. These people are here to watch the fun. They want to see if I will quarrel with the Prince Consort over that woman, and if I will use my power once again to drive that woman away."
At the end of her conversation, Princess Hengyang lifted Chunxi's chin with her nail-painted hand and said, "Good Ah Xi, who do you think is better, me or that woman?"
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