in2ebook Chapter 677 The Banquet Begins!
Chapter 677 The Banquet Begins!
Although some people are not allowed to dine with the princess.
But since we've come at the invitation, it's impossible that we can't even get to see the princess.
So, before long, a two-story pavilion in the garden was filled with people, because the princess had invited a troupe of actors to perform.
The pavilion has two floors and is very spacious, easily accommodating all the ladies and young women present.
The second floor was completely closed; everyone was gathered on the first floor. Fortunately, there was a pond on the north side of the building, with many lotus flowers planted in it. This way, one could enjoy the lotus flowers and the scenery, and it was also cool here.
In addition, Mu Xin Nuan was worried that it would be stuffy with so many people, so she had several ice buckets prepared.
Looking at the waterside pavilion, Madam Fang truly hadn't expected it to be decorated like this. She had come here to cool off when she lived in the Prince's mansion.
At that time, this place was relatively empty, and there were only two daybeds and one rattan bed. Now, it has been prepared like this.
This waterside pavilion is as big as four main rooms. On the far east side, there is a small partitioned room for ladies and young women to change their clothes and tidy themselves up temporarily.
There were more than twenty tables in the hall.
Each table was surrounded by six to eight stools. The seat in the very center was, of course, where Princess Changping was to sit.
Only a handful of people were qualified to sit at the same table as the princess.
Madam He, needless to say, is clearly a suitable match in terms of status, while Madam Fu is unexpectedly fortunate enough to sit at the same table as the Princess.
In Fang's eyes, this Madam Fu was nothing more than a nouveau riche; what right did she have to sit at the same table as the Princess?
After Fang entered, a servant immediately led her to the designated seat.
Over the past year, Fang has attended several banquets and naturally knows that, generally speaking, the guests' seats are arranged in advance.
Following the old woman's figure, Fang was led to a table with the princess.
Fang sat down in her seat, and at the head of the table was Madam Fu.
Fang was somewhat displeased. How could an ordinary merchant's wife be arranged to sit at the head of the table? Although Master Fu also held a position in Yanzhou Prefecture, it was merely a sinecure. What right did he have to put on airs here?
However, since it was the princess's arrangement, Fang Shi naturally couldn't say anything, though she looked a little unhappy.
Mu Xin Nuan naturally noticed the changes in her expression.
She deliberately had her seats arranged this way today.
If she hadn't come, someone else would have been assigned to this position, but since she's here, this spot can only be hers.
Mu Xin Nuan sighed inwardly. In the end, she couldn't keep her composure, and her face clearly showed whether she was happy or angry.
Madam Lu was unable to attend due to poor health, and Madam Liu was not in Yanzhou either. Therefore, the only other person at the table of junior generation was He Xiangling.
Coincidentally, He Xiangling is Madam He's legitimate daughter, so this table is quite lively.
Madam Liu and Madam He sat on either side of Mu Xin Nuan, while the seat below Madam Liu was empty.
Fang glanced around and thought that almost everyone had arrived, so why was no one sitting there? Should she move over there and sit down herself?
Although it was somewhat impolite, she was the princess's cousin-in-law, so there was nothing wrong with it.
However, she did not move.
Then, a commotion could be heard outside the waterside pavilion.
Everyone inside the pavilion couldn't help but feel curious, and they all looked in the direction of the sound.
It turned out to be Zhang Ruilan, who had met Chuchu at the bottom of the steps of the waterside pavilion.
Seeing Chu Chu dressed in such an extremely noble and elegant manner, it was hard not to feel angry.
"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this Miss Chuchu? What's up? Is there a banquet at the Prince's mansion today? Are you invited to play a tune on the zither, or to perform a dance?"
These words were truly merciless, spoken in front of the young ladies, clearly intended to embarrass Chu Chu.
Chu Chu glanced at her coldly. If it weren't for her master and mistress finding a way to give her a noble status, she would have been humiliated today.
But she had neither stolen nor robbed, nor had she ever done anything immoral. Why was this Miss Zhang making things so difficult for a woman like her?
Could it be that bullying a helpless orphan girl gives her a sense of accomplishment?
Or is it simply because she is close to Fu Hongyang?
Chu Chu took a deep breath and smiled slightly. "Miss Zhang, it's been a few days, and your tongue has become even more venomous. It seems the lesson from last time wasn't enough? What? This time, are you thinking of having my maid break your hand?"
Zhang Ruilan's face paled. Thinking of what happened last time, she was naturally still shaken. However, the thought that she was in the Chang Le Prince's Mansion gave her a sense of security.
However, if Mu Xin Nuan knew, she would find it rather strange.
This is the Chang Le Prince's Mansion. What do you, a young lady from the Zhang family, think you have to rely on?
"Don't be so smug! Let me tell you, this is the Chang Le Prince's Mansion. Do you think this is a place where you can run wild?"
Mu Xin Nuan saw that they had calmed down enough. With a wink, Rong Yue immediately went out to greet them, "Oh, Miss, why are you so late? The Princess has been waiting for ages."
Everyone was taken aback. Was the princess waiting for this young lady?
Why?
The person who was most surprised was naturally Zhang Ruilan.
"How, how could it be?"
The sudden turn of events left Zhang Ruilan speechless.
She was originally quite pleased with herself, thinking that she could come to the Prince Chang Le's Mansion with her mother today.
The Prince Chang Le's Mansion? What a noble and grand place!
She made a point of showing off this to many of her close female friends. The envious glances they gave her made her incredibly happy.
But what is the situation now?
Why is it that Chu Chu, whom I always looked down upon, is able to be treated as a princess?
Suddenly, it dawned on me that the princess must have felt it was time for music and dance, which was why she was in such a hurry to let her in.
Yes, that must be it!
Zhang Ruilan comforted herself in this way and sat down in the most inconspicuous seat. Her mother was also at the table.
Because of their status, they were seated in what was practically the worst spot in the entire hall.
"Alright, everyone's here. Today, I'm hosting this flower-viewing banquet for another reason."