"I didn't expect my second sister to be so familiar with Lord Pei. I heard that Lord Pei is also from Li County." Shen Jinshu said casually, glancing at Shen Yanxi and Mingzhu beside her, and left it at that.
Seeing the two men's unpleasant expressions, Shen Jinshu wisely shut her mouth and smiled slightly, "Fourth Brother, let's go too, lest we be late."
"Okay." Shen Yanxi withdrew his gaze, forced a smile at the corners of his lips, and strode to Shen Jinshu's side.
She had only taken two steps when Shen Jinshu suddenly turned around, smiling sweetly, "Mingzhu, come with us."
A flicker of panic crossed Mingzhu's face, and the ruthlessness in her eyes vanished instantly. She opened her mouth awkwardly and quickly followed the two.
*
A banquet held on the lake.
On the clear, rippling lake, ornately decorated pleasure boats slowly sail past the pavilion in the center of the lake.
At the antique-style banquet, one could see all kinds of delicacies and a dazzling array of treasures.
The fresh vegetables and fruits adorned with fragrant flowers and dewdrops, the roasted suckling pig gleaming with golden luster and exuding a rich aroma, and the exquisite pastries emitting enticing tea fragrances are just a few examples of the many delicacies available.
The young men at the banquet chatted happily, raising their cups to each other from time to time, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
As for the noble ladies, they gathered on the other side of the table, chatting with those around them about famous rouge and jewelry in the capital, or discussing recent interesting events in the capital, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
When Song Zhiyu walked over, the banquet had not yet started. She sat idly in a corner, resting her chin on her hand and admiring the rippling lake.
As she watched, she actually started to feel drowsy.
"A banquet for boating on the lake is not for someone of your status. Don't think that just because you've climbed up to Prince Xiao Xun, you can become a phoenix on a branch. With your status as an orphan, you wouldn't even be qualified to be Prince Xiao's concubine."
A sharp, piercing taunt suddenly rang out. Hearing a slightly familiar voice, Song Zhiyu leisurely opened her tightly closed eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.
Several women dressed in brocade robes and adorned with exquisite jewelry were seen blocking the path of a woman in white, mocking her without any politeness.
The woman in the lead was Tan Yingying, who had been tricked by Song Zhiyu, while the woman in white they were targeting was completely hidden by the group, making it impossible to see her face.
However, after a period of absence, Tan Yingying reverted to her arrogant and haughty demeanor.
It seems that what happened last time didn't teach her a lesson.
Song Zhiyu became interested, lightly tapping the table with his index finger as he sipped tea and watched the show.
“Not everyone is like Miss Tan, going to great lengths to marry into the Marquis’s mansion.” Ye Linxi took two steps back, raised her eyes to look directly at Tan Yingying, a faint smile on her fair and beautiful face, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.
She had no intention of marrying Xiao Xun. If Tan Yingying was capable enough, she should go to Xiao Xun instead of making things difficult for her.
"Unfortunately, the person you want to marry doesn't want to marry you, so you can only take it out on me." Ye Linxi was holding back her anger. Contrary to her usual weak and easily bullied demeanor, she retorted in a mild but firm tone, and even made a few sarcastic remarks.
"What are you saying, you bitch?" Tan Yingying was hit where it hurt, and in a fit of anger and embarrassment, she lost her temper and pushed Ye Linxi without thinking. Even the people next to her couldn't stop her.
Ye Linxi felt a push coming from her shoulder. Her body, which was not yet fully recovered, was a little weak and she was pushed backward.
She closed her eyes involuntarily, feeling somewhat helpless, thinking that if she made a fool of herself later, she would be scolded by the Lady of the Marquis's mansion when she returned.
The expected pain did not come. Ye Linxi felt someone holding her waist and barely managed to steady herself.
"Miss Ye, are you alright?" Song Zhiyu asked with concern. She hadn't had a chance to thank Ye Linxi for speaking up for her despite her own difficult situation.
"I'm fine, thank you." Ye Linxi was taken aback, then straightened up with Song Zhiyu's help and smiled at her.
Last time, she couldn't stand Tan Yingying's arrogance and bullying, so she spoke up for Song Zhiyu.
This time, Song Zhiyu saved Tan Yingying again.
It seems they are quite destined to be together.
On the other side, Tan Yingying regained her senses, her face turning slightly pale. If the Prince of Li and her father found out about her causing trouble at the lake banquet, she would suffer again.
Seeing Ye Linxi being helped up, she breathed a sigh of relief, but her face darkened when she saw the person's face.
"It's you again." Tan Yingying's eyes widened suddenly, and hatred welled up in her heart.
Her current predicament is entirely due to the person in front of her.
If Song Zhiyu hadn't set a trap for her, causing her to utter those treasonous words in front of everyone, she wouldn't have incurred the dislike of the Prince of Li and almost married the old man as his second wife.
Now, when enemies meet, their eyes are filled with intense hatred.
Tan Yingying's eyes were bloodshot, and she gritted her teeth, looking as if she wanted to devour the two of them alive. "Song Zhiyu, Ye Linxi, you've ruined me so badly!"
"Your own rude words and improper behavior displeased Prince Li and resulted in a reprimand. What does that have to do with us?" Song Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, her words inadvertently provoking Tan Yingying's anger.
"If you hadn't deliberately led me to say those words, Prince Li wouldn't have ended up like this..." Tan Yingying was furious, but she still retained some rationality and took back her words in time.
She patted her chest, still shaken, and swallowed the words that were about to come out of her throat.
A hint of regret flashed across Song Zhiyu's eyes; it seemed she had learned her lesson.
"I didn't scheme against you. Weren't those words exactly what you were thinking? Why blame me? I'm not strong enough to carry such a heavy burden." Song Zhiyu shook her head with a smile. How could she admit that she had tricked Prince Li?
Tan Yingying wanted to provoke her further, so she suggested she go back and practice some more.
"You..." Tan Yingying was furious, she had almost forgotten her father's instructions to her.
Ye Linxi released Song Zhiyu's hand, walked closer to Tan Yingying, and said with a serious expression, "I'll say it again, whether you want to pester Xiao Xun or marry him, it has nothing to do with me. Just like you said, I am just a lowly orphan girl, unworthy of Prince Xiao."
In that case, I can't be considered your enemy. From now on, what happens between you and him is your business; don't bother me anymore.
Tan Yingying snorted coldly, her face showing disdain. "Hmph, that's easy for you to say. If you hadn't seduced Brother Xiao Xun, why would he have refused to marry me?"
She vented all her frustrations on Ye Linxi.
"Miss Tan, have you ever heard the saying, 'If things don't go as you wish, you might as well look for the reason within yourself'?" Song Zhiyu said this with a forced smile, the implication of which was very clear.
Upon hearing this, the guests watching the play burst into laughter. Everyone in the capital knew that Tan Yingying had been shamelessly pestering Xiao Xun, and even after being rejected, she wouldn't give up, doing a series of ridiculous things that made the Tan family lose face.
It could be said that, apart from the messy affairs of the Marquis of Chengen's mansion, Tan Yingying was another topic of conversation among them.
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