Chapter 286 Banquet
Li Huaijing has been stationed in Wengzhou for nearly ten years. Now he has been appointed as the Maritime Customs Commissioner and can stay in Hanjing. This banquet at the Taifu Mansion was very grand.
However, the servants in the Taifu Mansion were well-trained, and although there were many guests, there was no congestion at the door. After writing the greetings, the servants led them to where the male and female guests were.
Chunxi is now more than four months pregnant. Although her belly has not yet become noticeably swollen, Shen Qingyuan is worried about her being alone, so he specifically asks her to bring Nanny Li and Nanny Zhang with her.
These two maids were the ones Princess Hengyang had brought from Concubine Xian's palace to take care of Chunxi when she entered the palace.
They knew the palace rules very well and were extremely vigilant about the undercurrents in the aristocratic families' harems. With them, Chunxi felt as if he had two great bodyguards on his left and right, and was extremely safe.
Chunxi followed the servants of the Taifu Mansion to the back garden. When they were still some distance away from the garden, Yun Wantang came to greet them with a smile: "Ah Xi, you are here. You should not be tired now. Come with me and sit down to rest."
As he spoke, Yun Wantang eagerly grabbed Chunxi's hand, as if there had never been any unpleasantness between them, but rather they had a very good relationship.
In the garden, Yun Wantang specially reserved the pavilion with the best view for Chunxi, and even ordered cushions and waist protectors to be placed on the benches in the pavilion. Chunxi had just sat down when she heard Yun Wantang say, "You are pregnant now, so you shouldn't drink tea. I specially asked the kitchen to make some top-quality blood swallows."
Top-quality blood swallows are very expensive. Chunxi only had the privilege of eating two bowls of them when Princess Hengyang stayed with her temporarily, but Yun Wantang used them directly to entertain guests. Even though they had had a few unpleasant experiences before, Chunxi had to admire Yun Wantang's generosity in treating guests.
Not long after, the bird's nest came up.
Chunxi had just taken a sip when Princess Hengyang appeared.
Accompanied by Madam Zhao, Yun Wantang remained by Chunxi's side. After Princess Hengyang entered the pavilion, Yun Wantang helped Chunxi stand and saluted, "Your Highness greets the Princess."
Princess Hengyang found Yun Wantang and Chunxi's arm-in-arms a bit annoying, but this wasn't the princess's residence after all, so she didn't get angry and said calmly, "Get up. No need to be so polite."
After saying that, he walked over to Chunxi and sat down.
Madam Zhao exchanged a few polite words and went to greet the guests again, but Yun Wantang had no intention of leaving and ordered someone to serve a bowl of bird's nest to Princess Hengyang.
Although this top-grade blood swallow is a good thing, it is not a rare thing for Princess Hengyang. She snorted and said to Chunxi, "My mother and the emperor's sister-in-law gave me a lot of good things a while ago. The storehouse of the princess's mansion is full. Tomorrow, Ah Xi, feel free to come to the princess's mansion to choose whatever you like."
Chunxi quickly thanked her, and Yun Wantang smiled and said, "The princess is so kind to Madam Shen."
Princess Hengyang raised her eyebrows and said something veiled in her words: "This princess likes straightforward people. Ah Xi's temperament is very much to my liking, so I am naturally willing to treat her well."
Yun Wantang seemed to have completely ignored Princess Hengyang's subtext and echoed her words, "Yes, the princess is forthright and straightforward, never discriminating against anyone based on social status. She is truly the epitome of a lady from an aristocratic family in the capital."
“…”
This princess is teasing you, why are you praising me?
Princess Hengyang choked and was speechless for a moment.
After a while, the maid from the mansion brought Sister Yue to Yun Wantang.
Sister Yue was not shy. Her big round eyes looked at Princess Hengyang and Chunxi curiously. After being reminded by Yun Wantang, she immediately bowed politely: "Yue'er greets Her Royal Highness the Princess and Madam Shen."
Yue'er is only five or six years old and speaks in a baby voice. Today she is wearing an orange-red dress embroidered with koi fish. Her meticulously combed double bun makes her chubby little face look cuter than the dolls in New Year pictures.
No matter how much Princess Hengyang hated Yun Wantang, she couldn't help but look at Yue'er a few more times.
Feeling Princess Hengyang's gaze, Yue'er bravely stepped forward and grabbed Princess Hengyang's hand, saying softly, "Princess, you are so beautiful, like a fairy from heaven."
Princess Hengyang: “…”
Princess Hengyang tried her best to restrain herself, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but rise, and she couldn't help screaming in her heart.
Ahhh! How could Yun Wantang give birth to such a cute and talkative daughter?
After a long silence, Princess Hengyang replied as calmly as possible: "You are also very beautiful."
"Thank you for the compliment, Princess."
Yue'er was not modest and accepted the compliment without hesitation. Princess Hengyang tried to hold back, but finally couldn't help it and took off a pearl from her head and gave it to Yue'er.
"Princess, this... this is too expensive. It's not good."
Yun Wantang stood up, feeling somewhat flattered. Princess Hengyang gave her a sidelong glance: "It's not for you, why are you so excited?"
Princess Hengyang's tone of voice wasn't very kind to Yun Wantang, but when it came to Yue'er, she clamped her voice and asked as sweetly as possible, "Yue'er, do you like this?"
Yue'er nodded heavily: "Princess, Yue'er likes it. When Yue'er grows up, she wants to wear it like a princess."
"If you like it, take it."
"Yuer thanks the princess for the reward."
After Yue Er imitated the adults and bowed to express her gratitude, Yun Wantang was about to take her to greet the ladies of other noble families. Yue Er was a little reluctant and said, "Mother, I like the princess. Can I play with her more?"
Yun Wantang looked embarrassed and whispered, "Her Royal Highness is very busy and pregnant, so she doesn't have much energy to play with you."
Yue'er lowered her head in disappointment, but quickly cheered up and looked at Princess Hengyang with sparkling eyes: "Princess, when your baby is born, can Yue'er play with him?"
Faced with such a cute little face, Princess Hengyang couldn't say no and could only nod: "Okay."
Yue'er stretched out her little hand and shook hands with Princess Hengyang to make an agreement, and then obediently followed Yun Wantang to greet other people.
After the mother and daughter walked away, Princess Hengyang suppressed her smile and asked Chunxi in a low voice, "Was Yun Wantang feeling proud just now?"
Chunxi shook her head: "From my perspective, there shouldn't be any."
Princess Hengyang breathed a sigh of relief and hummed softly, "It's just a small Dongzhu as a reward, and it's not for her. I don't think she would be proud of it."
"That's what the princess said."
Chunxi agreed as she picked up the bowl of unfinished blood swallows. Feeling Princess Hengyang's gaze, Chunxi explained in a low voice, "Blood swallows are quite expensive, and they're already cooked. It would be a waste if we didn't eat them."
Chunxi ate calmly, and Princess Hengyang's discomfort soon dissipated.
Yes, no matter what Yun Wantang is like, this top-quality blood swallow is always good, and the child is really lively and cute.
Ah Xi ate a bowl of blood swallows, and she gave the child a Dongzhu as a reward. It was just a small matter and did not mean that her relationship with Yun Wantang would change.
Yue'er is cute and sweet-spoken, and quickly won praise from all the guests.
The atmosphere was lively when an elderly noblewoman suddenly attacked Chunxi: "Madam Shen is pregnant, yet she still goes to Wuyou Pavilion to have fun. Aren't you afraid that something bad will happen to the baby in your belly?"
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