Chapter 98 What a selfish Master!
Pei Jingxu was slightly stunned, and a look of confusion flashed across his face as he looked at Rong Jianxue.
"ah?"
She pulled the corner of her mouth and tilted her head slightly.
The birthday banquet was huge, with a long banquet hall extending from the brightly lit area to the coast of the island. People came in an endless stream to celebrate the official's birthday.
Because many family members came with their husbands or fathers, and the government has always advocated that men and women sit at the same table, men and women did not sit at separate tables at this banquet.
The women followed the courtiers' seats and took seats beside them.
Pei Jingxu naturally sat next to Rong Jianxue.
His Majesty had not yet arrived, and the court officials were chatting with each other, making the place bustling and noisy.
Many familiar women gathered together, chatting and laughing, discussing the most fashionable materials and the most beautiful jewelry in the capital recently.
The bright lights hung high, illuminating Pei Jingxu's eyes and eyebrows.
Rong Jianxue didn't say anything, but stared at her quietly with a pair of cold eyes.
She was so calm that even the light from the lamp could not reflect on her face.
As if she had just realized what the man meant, Pei Jingxu bit her lip slightly and whispered, "Erlang's rank is not as high as yours."
Rong Jianxue nodded slightly and said, "Indeed."
As he said this, he turned around and took a sip of the wine cup beside him.
Pei Jingxu: “…”
There was no speech for a moment.
Pei Jingxu looked at the wine glass the man put down, then turned to look at his own eight-immortals table.
—There was no wine jug on her table.
As if guessing what Pei Jingxu was thinking, Rong Jianxue said solemnly, "You can't hold your liquor well, so I'll give you some scented tea instead."
Pei Jingxu frowned in mock dissatisfaction upon hearing this: "Your Excellency drinks wine, but lets Ah Xu drink tea. What a selfish official!"
Rong Jianxue chuckled when she heard this, "Pei Jingxu, this isn't how you go to court."
Pei Jingxu curled his lips and said nothing more.
Rong Jianxue glanced at her sideways, and finally said, "The palace banquet is full of hidden attacks and threats. Only by staying awake can you cope with it."
"If you really want to drink, you can drink as much as you want after returning to the East Courtyard."
Pei Jingxu raised his eyebrows slightly, pretending to be dissatisfied: "But you drank it yourself, sir, aren't you afraid of getting drunk?"
Rong Jianxue smiled and said, "I won't get drunk."
"It seems that I am late. Please forgive me, my lords!"
A gentle voice came from the distance.
Pei Jingxu frowned slightly and turned around to see Shen Qianfan in a bright yellow robe walking towards Rong Jianxue.
Upon seeing this, the ministers and guests knelt down and saluted: "Greetings to His Royal Highness, may His Royal Highness live a thousand years—"
Shen Qianfan smiled gently: "Everyone, please stand up. Today is the birthday banquet for our father. Please do as you please. Don't worry about me!"
Since resettling the refugees, Shen Qianfan's reputation has been rising rapidly.
Everyone in the court praised the prince for his kindness and good intentions. He properly resettled the refugees and also solved the problem of soaring food prices in Chang'an City.
Now in the court, the party supporting the prince is in great shape and in high spirits.
Shen Qianfan was in high spirits and radiant.
He walked to Rong Jianxue and bowed respectfully, "Student greets Master Young Master."
The two haven't seen each other since the last time Shen Qianfan "used" Pei Jingxu to retrieve the refugees.
At this moment, Shen Qianfan acted as if nothing had happened, and was still respectful, polite, gentle and courteous to the young master.
Rong Jianxue took another sip of wine and nodded slightly, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite."
Shen Qianfan then stood up and his eyes fell on Pei Jingxu who was standing beside him.
Pei Jingxu bowed slightly: "I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Shen Qianfan smiled gently: "Second Lady can accept the invitation and attend the birthday banquet of the emperor, I am very happy."
He held a wine glass in his hand, the wine swaying, he leaned forward slightly, tilted his head and looked at her with a smile.
It's getting closer.
Before Pei Jingxu could say anything, Rong Jianxue beside him said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, the wine was spilled on her."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qianfan curled his lips and smiled, then took a few steps back to distance himself from Pei Jingxu.
"Second Madam, enjoy tonight's banquet. It might be something you'll never forget."
After saying this ambiguous sentence, Shen Qianfan turned around and left, sitting in his seat.
Looking at Shen Qianfan's leaving back, Pei Jingxu narrowed his eyes slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
At the banquet, it seemed that some ministers gathered in groups of three or four and started discussing.
"Hey, hey, hey! Have you heard? His Royal Highness the Third Prince returned to the capital a few days ago!"
"This matter has spread throughout the capital, who wouldn't know about it?"
"His Royal Highness the Third Prince returned to the capital this time to attend His Majesty's birthday banquet. Why haven't we seen him yet?"
"That's right. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here, but His Royal Highness the Third Prince isn't here yet. Isn't that a bit inappropriate..."
“…”
"I am late! I hope you are all well!"
Here it comes.
Pei Jingxu clenched the teacup in his hand slightly.
Hearing the sound, everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
The third prince, Shen Huaichen, was seen wearing a black and gold robe, looking elegant and smiling.
Compared to the Crown Prince Shen Qianfan, the Third Prince Shen Huaichen is younger and looks more cheerful and gentle.
The wide sleeves covered the man's finger bones, and Pei Jingxu couldn't see clearly from his angle.
Until everyone stood up after paying their respects, Shen Huaichen first walked to Shen Qianfan and curled his lips: “Second brother, how are you?”
Shen Qianfan curved his eyebrows and said, "Long time no see, third brother."
Undercurrents are surging.
When Shen Huaichen first entered the capital, he gave Shen Qianfan a warning, but that was all done in secret. On the surface, both of them looked like brothers.
After reminiscing about the past with Shen Qianfan, Shen Huaichen turned to Rong Jianxue and bowed slightly to her: "Greetings, Master Young Master."
When he bowed, Pei Jingxu noticed that he was wearing a glove on his left hand. When he bent his fingers, the little finger and ring finger of his left hand always seemed to be half a beat slower.
"Boom boom--" Pei Jingxu's heartbeat quickened and his face turned slightly pale.
When Shen Huaichen was young, he had taken lessons with Rong Jianxue under Shen Qianfan, so he deserved his greeting.
Rong Jianxue nodded, her expression unchanged. "It's been a while since we last met. Your Highness the Third Prince has grown a lot."
Shen Huaichen raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he had just noticed Pei Jingxu beside him, and curled his lips slightly: "I guess this must be the Second Madam Pei? I have heard a little about her. Nice to meet you."
It was as if the two of them were just meeting for the first time.
Pei Jingxu calmly suppressed his emotions and bowed to the man.
After a few more tit-for-tat conversations, Shen Huaichen also took his seat.
Pei Jingxu narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on Shen Huaichen's black-gloved left hand until he sat down again, his wide sleeves covering his finger bones again.
"What's wrong?" Rong Jianxue said lightly.
Pei Jingxu's expression changed, and he looked puzzled. "Sir, it's still late summer, why is His Royal Highness the Third Prince wearing gloves?"
Rong Jianxue glanced in the direction of Shen Huaichen and said calmly, "It is said that when the Third Prince came of age, he contracted a strange disease on his way to his fiefdom. Since then, his left hand has been stiff and paralyzed, unable to move."
"The Third Prince thought it was unsightly, so he had these gloves specially made to aid recovery."
Pei Jingxu laughed secretly in his heart.
lie.
It was obvious that the ring finger and little finger of his left hand had disappeared!
——She chopped it off with a kitchen knife!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
