Chapter 106: Spring Banquet, Concubine Selection
The Spring Banquet was held at the residence of Princess Yongning, hosted by the Queen and co-organized by Princess Yongning.
Princess Yongning is the emperor's eldest sister and the eldest daughter of the late emperor. She is highly respected and favored. When she got married, the late emperor gave her a royal garden as her residence. She has a very high reputation among the royal family.
She was good at socializing, dancing, and often held banquets and singing.
It is spring now, the grass is green, the birds are singing, and the flowers are competing for beauty.
Unmarried young men and women were having fun in the garden, with laughter and joy everywhere.
This is not only to select a concubine for the prince, but also to arrange blind dates for young noble men and women.
Princess Yongning's sister-in-law, Ji Fangfei, had grown into a graceful young lady. "Sister-in-law, please help me. If I become the Consort Rui, I will follow your lead and obey you in everything."
Although they are sister-in-law, they are more than ten years apart in age and their relationship is like that of mother and daughter.
Princess Yongning also knew that this was a good thing and would make her more powerful, but the Ninth Prince was not someone she could control.
That boy is too cold and indifferent. There is no one else in his eyes except the emperor.
How could there be any affection between these brothers and sisters with such a huge age gap? The second sister Yongan died at the hands of that brat.
But, it’s not easy to tell this to my sister-in-law.
She looked at the beautiful Ji Fangfei and pinched her cheek affectionately, "You should know that only two people can decide the Ninth Prince's marriage: the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."
"The Queen Mother spends all day chanting scriptures and doesn't care about worldly affairs. I'm afraid she won't ask about the Ninth Prince's marriage either."
Ji Fangfei understood and pestered her, "Please help me say a few good words in front of the emperor."
She has liked Li Wuyang since she was a child, and she dreams of marrying him. It has become an obsession.
Princess Yongning smiled slightly and said, "My ninth brother will be here soon. You should behave well. Men like well-behaved, sweet and docile women."
Ji Fangfei is spoiled and arrogant, but in order to become Princess Rui, she is willing to put aside her temper temporarily.
"I see. You must help me."
Princess Yongning nodded with a smile, "It's not convenient for me to come forward, so let Yu'er take you, my aunt, to show off in front of the Queen."
Ji Yu'er is the biological daughter of Princess Yongning. They have a very good relationship and she agreed readily.
At this moment, the palace maid announced, "The Queen is here."
Not only the Empress came, but also the eldest prince and his wife, the second prince and his wife, the third prince, the fourth prince, the fifth prince, and the Princess of Jiangcheng all came.
Everyone came forward to greet him and after some polite exchanges, they sat down in the garden pavilion.
The Queen was in high spirits as she looked at the young men and women all over the garden. She jokingly said, "Third Prince, Fourth Prince, take a good look and choose the woman you like."
The girls who can enter the garden are carefully selected, with clean family background and excellent personal conditions.
The Third Prince laughed heartily, "Let Uncle Nine choose first. Father is getting impatient."
Everyone laughed.
Amidst laughter, Ji Yu'er brought Ji Fangfei to the Queen. Ji Fangfei flattered and fawned over her in various ways, and kept saying "Your Highness the Queen" every other sentence. The girl's love was written all over her face, and everyone saw it.
It turns out that her goal is to be nine thousand years old. Is this an early demonstration to make her competitors give up?
The third prince saw it but didn't take it to heart.
The Fourth Prince was unhappy and took note of it secretly. Was this looking down on him?
He is a half-legitimate son and is the proudest person.
"Why hasn't the Ninth Prince come yet?"
At this moment, a voice announced, "The Ninth Prince has arrived, and Princess Jinyun has arrived."
The Queen chuckled, "It's finally here, First Prince, take someone to welcome them."
"Yes." The eldest prince went to greet them with a group of brothers. The others did not dare to be negligent and followed.
"Meet the Ninth Uncle."
"Meet Prince Rui."
Li Wuyang was dressed in brocade clothes, his brows and eyes were cold, "Everyone, get up."
Even though he was sitting in a wheelchair, his fierce aura overwhelmed the entire audience.
Yun Zheng lagged behind Li Wuyang by a few steps, not stealing the show, but her extraordinary charm remained.
She was dressed in bright red, and her beauty was so stunning that it shocked the hearts of countless men.
Beauty is so beautiful. It is a vibrant beauty, a confident, bold and passionate beauty.
Ji Fangfei saw Yun Zheng at first sight. She and Li Wuyang looked inexplicably well-matched when standing together. This scene deeply hurt Ji Fangfei's eyes, and a strong sense of crisis arose in her heart.
"Prince Rui, why did you come here with this woman?"
Li Wuyang frowned slightly, "This is Princess Jinyun, she is here to assist me on my errands under the orders of the Emperor."
Ji Fangfei smiled innocently, "So that's how it is. Princess, you are really capable. But, you hang out with men all day long. Doesn't your husband's family mind?"
Yun Zheng was such a smart person that she could naturally hear the malice in her words, "I don't have a husband's family."
Ji Fangfei said loudly, "If I remember correctly, you have already married into the Pingxi Marquis Mansion and become the wife of the Second Young Master Jiang."
She was afraid that others didn't know that Yun Zheng was already married, so she reminded them repeatedly.
Yun Zheng was most annoyed by this and retorted, "You are not well-informed. I broke off relations with the Pingxi Marquisate a long time ago, and the Emperor acquiesced to it."
Ji Fangfei kept tugging at him, "That's not a divorce, you're still Mr. Jiang's."
Yun Zheng was getting impatient. "You're so concerned about this, are you attracted to Jiang Wenzhou? You can pursue Jiang Wenzhou now. After all, he's used to being shameless, so it's not impossible for him to marry into the third or fourth house."
"That's right, you have to be prepared with a fortune. Otherwise, even if you offer to pay for it, Jiang Er will not look down on you."
These words were too harsh to hear. Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. It was indeed as destructive as the legend said.
Ji Fangfei was both embarrassed and angry. How could she not pretend in front of the Queen?
"What nonsense are you talking about? I've never even met Mr. Jiang, so how can I have any feelings for him? A girl's reputation is the most precious thing. How can you slander me like this?"
She felt very aggrieved and glanced at Li Wuyang pitifully, "I just care about you."
Li Wuyang just looked at Yun Zheng, completely ignoring her existence, which made her even angrier.
Yun Zheng asked bluntly, "Do I know you? Do I need the malicious concern of a stranger?"
Ji Fangfei regarded her as her number one enemy and wished she would disappear immediately. "You are such a rebellious woman. If your husband's family dislikes you, how will you live in the future?"
Yun Zheng smiled slightly, "I have money and a title, do you have one?"
"You..." Although Ji Fangfei is the eldest princess's sister-in-law, her father has retired from officialdom, and her son-in-law is a master of calligraphy and painting. He only holds a fourth-rank honorary position, which does not require him to go to the government office.
Yun Zheng smiled and stabbed, "Oh, you didn't. Ordinary people should worry less about the rich and powerful and pay more attention to their own upbringing. With your temperament, you won't survive more than a year if you marry into your husband's family."
Everyone was stunned. She was so cruel.
Ji Fangfei was so angry that she almost vomited blood.
She rolled her eyes and said, "Nine Thousand Years Old, please judge for yourself. What did I do wrong to make Second Madam Jiang target me like this?"
She called him "Mrs. Jiang Er" with a heavy accent.
She was testing Li Wuyang's feelings, and everyone pricked up their ears to listen.
Although no one thinks there is anything wrong with these two people, but everyone has a gossipy heart, what if?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
