PNB Chapter 338 Spring Breeze Banquet, fake invitation?
Chapter 338 Spring Breeze Banquet, fake invitation?
Thirty miles from Kyoto, in Xiangshan, a man dressed in white sat painting beneath a bamboo grove. Even the dim candlelight didn't slow his brushstrokes. Silky, elegant lines outlined a pair of eyes, a pattern he'd repeated hundreds, thousands of times.
His thick, blade-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if hiding a hint of melancholy, making people want to smooth it out.
The deep and crystal clear eyes, looking at the painting, seem to be filled with stars, but also seem to have room for only one person.
He stopped painting and looked at the only eye in the painting, feeling that something was missing. However, this was indeed the most realistic painting he had done in recent days.
At this moment, a man came up behind him and said, "Your Majesty, Yan Yuze has already gone back."
The man in white hummed lightly and then put down the painting.
"Xizhu, that woman you mentioned, could it be her?"
After running away for half a year, he finally showed up?
"Yan Yuze recognized Miss Shu's portrait and can say with certainty that the person who appeared recently was not Miss Shu He." Xi Zhu spoke with reservation in his eyes.
Baili Moqing looked at the eyes in the painting, his eyes somewhat vague. "If it's not her, who else could Zhang Zhirou be by my side?"
"But Master Yan said that the woman next to Miss Zhang doesn't look at all like Miss Shu He. Perhaps..."
"Is that so?" He interrupted Xi Zhu, his eyes gleaming with a dark light. "Just go and take a look and you'll know."
Nishitake: ...
Going to Kyoto?
But the tomb guarding period is still two months away! Are you planning to sneak away again?
This is Kyoto. If we are discovered, we will lose our heads!
Shanghe Mansion in Xingdaofang was the temporary residence of the Princess of Beidi, Prince Yong and his son.
This place was originally the residence of General Liu Kun of the Kaiyuan Period. However, later on, Liu Kun was demoted by imperial decree for defying the previous emperor, and the house became vacant.
This time, the Northern Di sent a princess for marriage, and Prince Yong personally escorted the bride, expressing the Northern Di's sincerity.
Emperor Qiwen was very happy and to show his respect, he renovated the Kaiyuan General's Mansion, which had been vacant for a long time, gave it to them for temporary residence, and renamed it "Shanghe Mansion".
Although Liu Kun was a first-rank general back then, his residence was built according to the specifications of a prince, thanks to a gift from the previous emperor. Therefore, the scale of Shanghe Mansion was comparable to that of a prince's palace.
The palace is divided into three parts: the outer courtyard, the middle courtyard, and the inner courtyard. Each courtyard has three entrances, three exits, and three gardens. The architectural style is magnificent and exquisite when viewed closely, showing dignity and authority everywhere.
Shu He stood outside the door, looking at the majestic stone lions on both sides, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Zhang Zhirou saw her staring at the door plaque in a daze and couldn't help but ask, "Sister He, what's wrong with you?"
She didn't speak, but her memory went back to a long time ago.
At that time, Big Brother Shu Yuanqing hadn't started to dislike her yet. Back then, he often carried her around to play. This was his favorite place to bring her.
"Ah He, do you know where this is?"
Seven-year-old Shu He shook his head, "Big Brother, where is this? Why is it sealed off? It's so desolate."
"This is where my mother lived when she was a child..."
Little Shu He didn't understand yet, and just asked happily, "Is it mother's home? Is that our home too?"
……
"Sister He?"
"What are you thinking about? So absorbed?"
Shu He came back to his senses and sighed softly, "It's okay, go in."
Many people came to Shanghe Mansion today, including noble ladies from various families and sons of aristocrats.
Zhang Zhirou stood beside Shu He and handed the invitation that Shen Chuan brought last night to the servant at the door.
The servant took the invitation and his face changed slightly. "Miss, this invitation doesn't seem to be from our house. Did you get it by mistake?"
Perhaps because the two girls were both extremely beautiful and had excellent temperaments, the servant still maintained basic courtesy even though he didn't know them.
Zhang Zhirou glanced at Shu He. What was going on? Could it be fake?
"Young man, are you sure this invitation isn't from your family?"
Shu He was also a little confused.
This invitation was delivered by Shen Lanzhi herself yesterday, it can’t be fake!
"Which family are you two ladies from? Why haven't I seen you before?"
At this time, a crisp voice sounded behind the two of them. They turned around and saw a pretty woman with an oval face. She was wearing a light pink Yanluo gauze long skirt and a light pink wide belt decorated with silver thread and pearls around her waist, which made her figure look slim and graceful.
She looked at the two of them steadily, her curved eyes filled with a kind smile.
Behind her were two gorgeously dressed women. Although they were pretty, compared to her, they were like green leaves against red flowers, making her look even more beautiful.
A woman in a yellow dress tugged at the hem of Zhang Xuehan's clothes. "Xuehan, these two look unfamiliar to me. They probably aren't from Beijing."
Zhang Xuehan glanced at her lightly, then turned to Shu He and the others and said, "Let me introduce you. My name is Zhang Xuehan. This is Miss Liu Yuling from the family of the Minister of Works, and this is Miss Chen Wan'er from the family of the Minister of Revenue."
"I've met almost all the famous young ladies from the aristocratic families in Kyoto. But I don't seem to have any impression of you two. But which family are these new masters from who have arrived in Kyoto to take up their posts?"
Zhang Zhirou saw that she looked kind, and foolishly stepped forward to explain, "We are not the wives of officials, we are from Xishi..."
Before she could finish her words, she saw the woman who had originally had a gentle expression suddenly change her face. The smile on her face disappeared, leaving only doubt and a hint of contempt.
Chen Wan'er, who was standing behind Zhang Xuehan, asked, "You're not a member of the imperial family? Then why are you here?"
"The invitations sent by the Fifth Princess are all to the wives of officials of the fourth rank and above, as well as the children of aristocratic families. Those without status are not qualified to attend this Spring Breeze Banquet!"
"West Market? You're not the daughters of merchants from West Market, trying to sneak into the banquet and seduce the children of other noble families, are you?"
Liu Yuling's expression changed slightly as she looked at Shu He and the other person, as if their beauty stimulated her.
A hint of jealousy crossed her face. "Humph, as expected, the daughter of a lowly family can't escape her lowly nature. Relying on her beauty, she wants to blend in with the children of the rich and powerful and soar to the top. What wishful thinking!!"
During the time Zhang Zhirou has been with Shu He, her temper seems to have become even worse.
Normally, she couldn't stand being bullied, but now she couldn't hold it back and slapped him directly.
"Snapped!"
The loud slapping sound frightened the servant next to them so much that he couldn't help but tremble. It also made Zhang Xuehan and Chen Wan'er's faces stiff, with fear in their eyes. It also made the children of the noble families who came to the banquet look over.
"Where did this woman come from? Her mouth stinks. Did you forget to brush your teeth before going out?"
"Without merchants, where would you get the clothes you wear, the food you eat, and the jewelry you wear?"
"How dare the daughter of a mere Minister of Works speak so brazenly in public! How can being a businessman be considered lowly? In my opinion, uneducated officials like you are the truly lowly and vulgar!"
Zhang Zhirou's outburst left Lucy Liu speechless.
She covered the corner of her mouth. Not only was her left cheek burning with pain, but now her right cheek also felt like it was burning!
Because she saw someone, someone she had been secretly in love with for many years.
"You! How dare you!! My father is the Minister of Works, how dare you hit me!!" Now, Zhang Zhirou made her look bad in front of that person, and she even wanted to kill Zhang Zhirou!
"I'm going to hit you! What do you think?!" Zhang Zhirou was not afraid at all. How dare the daughter of a mere minister dare to scold her sister He!
It’s good enough that she didn’t die!
Zhang Xuehan also felt the gazes of the crowd and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
To save face, she tried to show her signature smile, "Miss, although Ms. Liu's words were harsh, isn't it too much for you to hit someone?"
"Besides, Miss Liu is just suspicious of your motives for coming here. If you have a clear conscience, you can just explain it yourself. Why are you so angry and embarrassed?"
Annoyed into anger?
Zhang Zhirou laughed angrily, "I'm just angry out of shame, what's the matter? Whoever dares to insult my sister or disrespect her, I will chop you down one by one!!"
She swung the machete, and Zhang Xuehan was so scared that she couldn't help but step back, her face turning pale.
"You, you...are barbaric!"
As a lady from a high-ranking official's family, she had never met such a barbaric and domineering woman. For a moment, she didn't know how to deal with it.
Zhang Zhirou wanted to retort, but Shu He, seeing the crowd growing, pulled her aside. He then turned to the servant and said, "Please go in and tell him that Liu Ruxin is here to see Prince Lanzhi."