"Tang Ning, besides your in-laws, do you have any friends you'd like to invite?"
Chi's mother was discussing the guest list with Shen Tangning.
She pondered for a moment and wrote down the names of several people on the paper.
Madam Chi glanced at him, then widened her eyes and lowered her voice: "Given His Highness the Crown Prince's condition... will he come?"
Shen Tangning smiled and explained, "Whether His Highness comes or not is His Highness's business. We just need to be mindful of our etiquette."
Chi's mother nodded, thinking that made sense.
Shen Tangning paused for a moment and asked her, "Mother, are you planning to invite people from the Marquis's residence?"
Mrs. Chi slightly pursed her lips: "Although they may not necessarily look up to us, if we don't invite them, it'll be easy for people to use it against us. I think... we still have to send an invitation!"
Shen Tangning nodded in agreement: "That's how it should be."
The old lady and the lady of the Marquis are proud and arrogant, and they may not be willing to attend the banquet. The Marquis of Ningyuan is even more busy with affairs of state, so it is most likely that he will just go through the motions.
Once the guest list was finalized, Chi's mother entrusted the task of writing the invitations to Shen Tangning and went to attend to the kitchen.
Shen Tangning took the list to Chi Yan and asked, "Husband, take a look, is there anything we need to replenish?"
Chi Yan took the table and looked at it. There weren't actually that many people. It was just his mother's relatives, Shen Tangning's friends, and his own friends. All together, it only filled three or four tables.
He searched inside and, sure enough, found the Crown Prince. He gave a barely perceptible snort, thinking to himself that His Highness the Crown Prince's position in her heart was indeed extraordinary.
Shen Tangning only wrote Ji Wuyai's name and did not write Tang Xu's name. Looking at Chi Yan's calm and composed appearance, she knew that her decision was right.
Since we've already broken off all pretense, there's no need to pretend anymore.
Seeing Chi Yan hesitate for a moment and then add another name to the paper, she took it in and was slightly surprised.
Chi Yan raised his head and explained, "Lord Liu helped us so much before, it wouldn't be right not to invite him."
Shen Tangning had considered Liu Yifu, but she hesitated slightly: "Lord Liu has always been a loner, so he might not come."
The other party is upright and honest, never forming cliques or engaging in favoritism in officialdom, and has very few personal connections. She was afraid of putting the other party in a difficult position.
Chi Yan shrugged indifferently: "That's alright, as long as our intentions are there."
Seeing his composure, she couldn't help but relax. Oh well.
Thus, the list of invitees was finalized, and Shen Tangning personally wrote the invitations and ordered them to be delivered to each recipient's residence.
...
The Chi family received the invitation, and Madam Hou gave a slight snort: "Now you remember us? Perhaps no one's backing him up!"
She casually tossed the invitation aside, her attitude dismissive. "Go and refuse it. Just say that I'm too busy with trivial matters to spare any time."
Chi Jingyu happened to enter the room, and upon hearing this, his eyes flickered slightly: "Whom is Mother trying to refuse?"
When Lady Hou saw him arrive, she gave a cold laugh and said, "Who else could it be?"
Chi Jingyu glanced at the table, picked up the invitation, and his eyes narrowed as he noticed the words on the cover.
He recognized Shen Tangning's handwriting; she wrote an exceptionally beautiful small regular script, unforgettable at first glance.
Chi Jingyu stared at the invitation for a long time before speaking, "If Mother is unwilling to attend the banquet, then I will go in her place."
Lady Hou stared at him in astonishment upon hearing this, then became annoyed: "Why are you trying to make them look good?"
Chi Jingyu's eyes darkened: "Although we've separated, we still share the Chi surname. There's no need to make things so awkward."
He's been having recurring dreams lately, dreams of bizarre scenes, and the protagonist in his dreams is... Shen Tangning.
Chi Jingyu was somewhat agitated; perhaps he should go and investigate himself.
*
The housewarming party was quite lively in front of the Chi family's house.
Shen Tangning and Chi Yan were greeting them at the door when they suddenly heard someone joyfully call out, "Ningning!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
