The Ji family's Qinyuan was decorated with lights and was bright. The banquet was held in a pavilion overlooking the lake. A cool breeze blew, and outside the lake was shimmering with waves, reflecting the starry sky. The sound of the wind brought an intoxicating fragrance to the table. Even Xiao Heng, who was used to big scenes, had to raise an eyebrow and admit that he had really underestimated the Ji family, who could share a three-point stake with the Mu and Yang families.
Old Master Ji personally welcomed Xiao Heng to the table, and said, "I apologize for the poor hospitality, Your Highness."
As he was speaking, he looked up and saw Su Rong with a girl behind Xiao Heng. He couldn't help but be stunned.
Ah, this is a men’s table!
He had known the Earl of Yongding before. When they were outside the city, this earl's horse riding skills were amazing, but... Old Man Ji has already become a skilled man. At his age, he is different from young people. No matter how unbelievable something is, it is not a big deal at their age.
After a brief moment of surprise, Mr. Ji smiled and said, "I will send someone to take this girl to the women's banquet in the back. The women's banquet is very close, just across a lake, in the open pavilion opposite. The scenery over there is quite something to see, and the girl will like it."
Su Yao came over just to recognize their faces. She had seen the appearance of Ma Lao Da and Bai Qi Ye through the portraits that Die Yi had brought. She came over just to see if there were any familiar faces among the men. Since there were none, she naturally couldn't really be here alone, so she smiled and said, "I was worried about my brother, so I gave him a few more instructions. I'm going to leave now."
Oh, it’s my sister.
Information about merchants spreads very quickly, but the officials in Yunnan found Su Yao's presence strange and learned about it very late, so the gentry did not know Su Yao's identity. However, they know it now.
Old Master Ji's attitude became more cautious. He politely and respectfully sent Su Yao out, and also gave his eldest grandson some instructions.
When Young Master Ji heard that this was the county princess, he was surprised, but he knew it was a big deal, so he went back and solemnly told his mother about it and asked her to entertain her with care.
Today's banquet was grand, and Mrs. Ji and several sisters-in-law were completely focused on organizing the banquet. She had just welcomed the Governor's wife in and was talking to Mrs. Liao, but someone came in and said that the eldest young master wanted to see her for something. She hurried out and asked her son, "What's the matter? Did something go wrong at the banquet earlier?"
"Nothing wrong." Young Master Ji explained to his mother, paused and organized his words, and then said, "She is the younger sister of the Earl of Yongding, the Princess of Changning County personally appointed by the emperor. I don't know how she came with us. She was at the banquet just now. Grandfather told you to be careful in receiving her."
Mrs. Ji also didn't react for a moment and found it a little unbelievable.
But she quickly reacted, nodded to show that she understood, suppressed her confusion, and sent her son away. While the county lady hadn't come yet, Mrs. Ji pondered for a moment, went back and talked to Mrs. Liao for a few words, and then asked about Su Yao in a vague way, and sighed: "This county lady, who was able to come to Yunnan, is the only noble lady in the entire imperial guard of honor. She must be of great status? But we didn't receive any news before, and we don't know what this county lady likes..."
Mrs. Liao understood what she meant as soon as she heard it. She laughed and shook her head, saying, "No need to ask me. This county lady came suddenly. We only know that she is the sister of the Earl of Yongding. As for why she is in the imperial envoy team and what she is doing here, we don't know. As for her preferences... I can only say that the county lady is not the type to make things difficult for others."
Since the wife of the governor said so, Mrs. Ji knew what was going on. Most of the wives of officials came this time. If they were just wives of gentry, that would be fine as their status would not be higher than that of the county lord, and she would not have any disrespectful thoughts. However, the backgrounds of the wives of officials were varied. Although their official positions might be lower than that of the wife of the governor, some of them had very high backgrounds. For example, the wife of Councillor Yang was a noble lady of the Chen family in Shu, and she was notoriously arrogant.
After all, the county princess has never been married. If she suddenly shows up like this, the nosy and old-fashioned wives of officials and young ladies may not have a good attitude towards her. However, today is the banquet hosted by the Ji family. If she makes the earl's sister unhappy at the Ji family's banquet, she will be making things difficult for the Earl of Yongding.
The Ji family intends to play a part in quelling the rebellion, so they naturally cannot offend the people close to His Highness.
Therefore, Mrs. Ji quickly smiled and raised her voice a little to ask, "I have to go out and greet Princess Changning. I can't treat her badly."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room fell silent.
The lights were on in the open hall, and the ladies were either greeting each other or introducing their daughters. They were all startled when they heard this.
Sure enough, Senator Yang's wife's brows were furrowed.
While the other ladies were asking around, Miss Yang San asked her mother softly, "Mother, which county lady is it?"
The other ladies were not informed, but the wife of Councillor Yang was naturally well-informed. She frowned and snorted, "In Yunnan, besides the Mu Mansion, who else could there be? Of course it's the county lord who came from the capital."
Mrs. Yang had a very bad impression of Su Yao.
A girl, an unmarried noble lady, why didn't she stay at home and come all the way to Yunnan, even if she was following her elder brother, but didn't her elder brother have a job? It was really unheard of that he didn't do anything serious and brought a younger sister with him.
After much thought, Mrs. Yang felt that there was only one possibility.
Therefore, when Miss Yang San said in confusion: "The county lady is not married yet, her brother did not bring a wife, and there are no female elders around, how did she come to Yunnan?"
"Why else?" Madam Yang thought without hesitation. Although she didn't want to discuss these things in front of her daughter, she thought that her daughter had grown up, and she had some expectations for her daughter, so she said in a deep voice: "The phoenix will not fall without treasure, what else could it be? Who is the imperial envoy? The imperial envoy is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
How noble is the status of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
It was only natural that such a shameless person could attract such a county lady to throw herself at him.
How could ordinary ladies be so shameless
Miss Yang San was really disgusted and snorted, "What county lady? She doesn't deserve it!"
With such a character, how can she have the nerve to hold the position of county lady
Madam Yang drank her tea calmly and told her daughter: "Just know it in your heart, don't show it."