It's Pei Xi.
He was being chased by several burly men, who were shouting something angrily as they fled up and down the stairs.
"Your Highness," she called to Pei Xuan, who had reached the door.
At that moment, Pei Xi, who was opposite them, also saw them, and her eyes lit up with surprise: "Too—"
He covered his mouth, excitedly ran to Pei Xuan, and hugged his arm.
"Brother! Good brother! These people are going to break my legs! Help! Help me!"
Pei Xuan sent people to find out what was going on.
It turns out that Pei Xi came to pay back the money he owed for drinks, but his purse was stolen, and he was mistaken for a conman who was eating and drinking for free.
"This is really weird! I shouldn't have gone out today!" he cursed.
Jiang Wan asked, "How did you end up running a debt with the restaurant?"
"Madam Jiang!?" Pei Xi was startled when he finally saw her face clearly.
Seeing Pei Xuan staring at him with a serious expression, he scratched his head and said, "I... forgot to bring my money a few days ago."
It's not surprising that Pei Xi, a playboy since childhood, was a regular at restaurants and teahouses.
But the timing today is too coincidental.
Pei Xuan never believed in coincidences.
He said in a deep voice, "Pei Xi, did you happen to be here today, or did someone send you?"
Pei Xi glanced at him sharply, her wide eyes revealing her guilt, but she said, "This, this is just a coincidence."
He's not telling the truth.
Jiang Wan's eyes sparkled.
A name had already surfaced in her mind.
Pei Xi was the most dissolute of the princes.
He's been teasing cats and dogs since he was little, never serious.
Because Pei Feng was always at odds with Pei Xuan, his relationship with Pei Xuan was not very close.
Pei Xuan did not expect him to tell him the truth.
"I'm so glad I met His Highness the Crown Prince today, but..."
Pei Xi's eyes darted back and forth between Jiang Wan and Pei Xuan.
"Why are you two together so late?"
"Song Yu is going to hold a master-apprentice banquet at the East Palace tomorrow. I have something to discuss with the Crown Prince."
Jiang Wan casually made up an excuse and looked at Pei Xi again.
"Would the Third Prince do me the honor of joining in the fun tomorrow?"
Pei Xi suddenly realized: "No wonder, so the golden feather soft armor that His Highness the Crown Prince asked Father Emperor for was for Song Yu."
Jiang Wan looked at Pei Xuan in surprise.
Pei Xuan didn't think much of it: "The Crown Prince is hosting a banquet, so I should fulfill my duty as the host."
"Thank you," Jiang Wan said sincerely.
The Golden Feather Soft Armor is a lifesaver, and Song Yu will inevitably have to go to the battlefield in the future, so he will need this item.
Since that's the case, she wouldn't mind helping Pei Xuan again.
"Your Highness, have your guards take up their swords and patrol this alley a few times."
The next day.
It was also the day of Song Lin's apprenticeship banquet.
The general's mansion was decorated with red and colorful decorations, and the servants began their preparations early in the morning to welcome guests.
Jiang Wan then went to Lianxin Courtyard.
Song Tingyue has a limp and doesn't like to go to crowded places. Unexpectedly, Jiang Wan came to her door early in the morning and said she wanted to have breakfast with her.
She was on guard.
"The mansion is crowded today, so I specially brought this for the princess to prevent you from having any difficulty moving around."
Jiang Wan raised her hand, and Biluo behind her handed her a pair of nanmu wood canes.
Song Tingyue suddenly stopped laughing.
She wondered what Jiang Wan had come for, only to find out she was there to mock her.
"This cane is good, but since the princess is now lame, it's best for her to stay home as much as possible."
After finishing breakfast, Jiang Wan couldn't resist provoking Song Tingyue before leaving.
"If you really encounter bad guys, you can't even outrun them. After all, the streets and alleys have been quite unsafe lately. Yesterday, a group of thugs were arrested behind the restaurant in East Alley."
Song Tingyue's expression remained unchanged, but her lips trembled slightly.
After Jiang Wan left, her face turned pale, and she collapsed onto the stool: "Quick! Go and find out what happened on the street last night!"
The maid returned quickly.
"Last night, the guards of the Eastern Palace surrounded a restaurant on East Street. I don't know what happened."
Song Tingyue clutched her handkerchief tightly, her expression shifting for a long while.
"Get the car ready, I'm heading out!"
At this moment, Gu Yurong was already dressed in her finest attire and stood in front of the mansion gate, ready to welcome guests.
She wore a royal blue embroidered brocade jacket with unicorn patterns, her lips painted with bright red rouge, and she was arm in arm with Song Ziyu, her eyes and brows full of joy.
Song Lin was also wearing a newly made long coat, holding a red-tasseled spear that symbolized the glory of the Song family in one hand, looking smug.
They look like a harmonious family.
"Have you notified the academy?" Song Ziyu asked.
Gu Yurong said, "Sister is busy preparing for Yu'er's apprenticeship banquet these days, so I didn't invite her."
Song Ziyu nodded in satisfaction.
It's best to avoid letting that troublemaker Jiang Wan come.
Every time she appears, good things turn into bad.
Gu Yurong smiled and said to Song Lin, "Lin'er, just wait and see, today you will be the most glamorous person in the entire capital."
Song Linzhi was very pleased with himself.
The mother and son waited at the door with joy, but as time passed, their smiles gradually faded.
As the appointed time drew closer, not a single carriage stopped at the gate.
Even Protector Xiao, whom they had agreed to meet, was nowhere to be found.
"What's going on?" Gu Yurong asked anxiously. "Why hasn't Protector Xiao arrived yet?"
Song Ziyu frowned: "Don't rush, Protector Xiao is not a man of his word."
He sent someone to the Xiao family to invite them.
But he only brought back a servant from the Xiao family: "Our master is busy! He went to the East Palace to attend the apprenticeship banquet."
"What?"
Gu Yurong was shocked.
The Crown Prince's Palace is also holding a ceremony to formally accept a disciple today. How come she didn't know about it at all?
Wait a minute, the Crown Prince is highly skilled in martial arts, and Princess Zhaohua has already become a disciple of Master Chenyi. Who else in the Eastern Palace needs to become a disciple?
What kind of important person could the Crown Prince hold a banquet for him at the Eastern Palace?
Gu Yurong's mind was in turmoil.
No matter who it is, they are people she can't afford to offend.
If she had known this would happen, she should have avoided today.
Upon hearing that he had been stood up, Song Lin said unhappily, "No matter what, Protector Xiao accepted the generous gifts from my family. How can he break his promise? Isn't that being untrustworthy!"
The servant became even angrier upon hearing this.
"A generous gift? Your worthless junk is hardly something you'd give a beggar! We're being lenient by not holding you accountable!"
On that day, when Protector Xiao opened those two boxes, his face was very ugly, and he smashed the things to pieces on the spot.
If it weren't for the long-standing friendship with the Song family, they would have come over and given them a good scolding.
It wasn't until later, when he saw the things that Madam Jiang sent, that his mood improved.
It contained a whole box of finely crafted, ingeniously designed hidden weapons, as well as a superior sword.
Protector Xiao cherished it dearly.
The servant spat and turned to leave.
"With this much, you still want to ask for favors? Learn from Madam Jiang!"
Gu Yurong had never seen a servant's expression before; she was filled with shame and anger, her face turning red and white in turns.
After a moment of realization, my heart skipped a beat.
"Madam Jiang...is he referring to Jiang Wan?"
In the dead of winter, a fine sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead, and she had a vague premonition of something bad.
"Quick! Go to the East Palace and find out who's holding the apprenticeship banquet there!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com