The male guest at the Liu Mansion today is Liu Jingyu's half-brother Liu Qingjie. This half-brother is quite talented and a nice person, but his status is a bit low. He used to be the son of a minister, but now he is only the son of a vice minister, and not even a legitimate son, so his status is a bit low for receiving His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Liu Jingyu also privately invited Qi Xiu'nan, the second son of Duke Qi's mansion, to help entertain the guests. Although nominally he was not as legitimate as Liu Qingjie, he was actually the one in charge in this matter.
Liu Qingjie was a bastard's son and usually didn't care about such matters. He was very reserved when he saw the prince. Qi Xiunan was a talkative person, and the reception affairs basically fell on him. No matter what happened in the past, Madam Liu was in charge of it. Not to mention that Liu Qingjie was only a bastard's son, even the Minister Liu at the time could not take care of some things.
After Prince Pei Luoan appeared, Liu Qingjie stepped aside and gave the home court to Qi Xiunan.
It was already late when Pei Luoan arrived, so Qi Xiunan led him to the seats by the lake. Almost everyone was already in place at the women's seats, and they were just waiting for the men's seats. The prince had not come, and the young masters of the noble families who had arrived earlier were not in a position to go over and wait there early.
At this moment, the prince arrived, and I followed him to the lake. I saw the high platform from a distance and was amazed for a moment.
A servant came in hurriedly and reported: "Master, Prince Jing is here."
Liu Qingjie looked at Qi Xiunan, who smiled and said, "Please come in."
Guests are welcome, and it was expected that King Jing would come today.
"Since my second brother is here, let's wait a little longer and go together." Pei Luoan said with his hands behind his back leisurely and a gentle smile.
He hooked his fingers in the air unconsciously, turned around and sat down on the chair again.
All the young masters of noble families had to return and sit down again.
Qi Xiu'nan and Liu Qingjie, acting as hosts, went out to welcome the guests.
After a while, he came in with Pei Yusheng.
"Brother, you're here really early. If I had known that you cared so much about Lady Jingyu, I would have come earlier. It's all my fault that you made me wait for you here." Pei Yusheng smiled as he stepped forward to greet Pei Luoan. His smile was so beautiful, as if the two brothers really loved each other.
"Second brother, you're not too late. I just arrived too, so it's a good opportunity for me to go and take a look with you." Pei Luoan stood up, smiled and shook his hand, with the same gentle expression.
Royal brothers are always good at acting, and they act even more affectionately at this moment. Even if the two of them secretly wish the other would die in front of them, they are still calm and indifferent at this moment.
"Brother, please." Pei Yusheng stepped aside and made way with a smile.
"Thank you, second brother. Let's go together." Pei Luoan invited with a smile.
The two brothers of the royal family walked ahead, and a group of young masters from aristocratic families followed them with smiling faces, watching them in a happy mood.
A lot of things have happened recently, all focused on the two brothers, whether it was the fraud case or the city gate assassination case, one thing after another, there was a faint feeling of blood and rain. The prince and Prince Jing, Prince Jing and the prince, these are the two most talked about families in the capital recently. Of course, even if they are talked about, it is all done in secret.
There are even more people watching secretly.
Following behind these two people, the young masters of noble families looked at each other, smiling with a peaceful look on their faces. As expected, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had come, and His Royal Highness Prince Jing would also come.
Pei Luoan and Pei Yusheng came to the lake
At the men's table, the women sitting opposite saw them coming and stood up and saluted from a distance.
Pei Luoan waved his hand and the ladies sat down again.
Accompanied by Qi Xiangyu, Liu Jingyu walked across the stone bridge and paid his respects in person.
"Thank you, Lord County." Pei Yusheng looked at Pei Luoan and then at Liu Jingyu, and suddenly smiled meaningfully, "Today's banquet is really a grand event. I have never seen such a grand palindrome banquet. Today, thanks to Lord County's blessing, I can also see such a palindrome banquet."
The sarcasm in this statement is obvious.
Liu Jingyu didn't know how to answer this question. She raised her eyes and looked at Pei Luoan tenderly, with a look of grievance in her eyes, and she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"It's just that everyone wants to join in the fun, just like me and my second brother, right?" Pei Luoan spoke up to help Liu Jingyu out, hiding the annoyance in his heart. Pei Yusheng had to compete with him for everything. Did Concubine He and her son really think that the world would belong to them
"Brother is right. I am narrow-minded. I have never seen a palindrome banquet at the Ling Anbo Mansion. I thought you would not like it."
Pei Yusheng laughed, looked Liu Jingyu up and down, and praised: "Brother is so lucky, you have a beauty who is unparalleled in the country, and you are also so capable and considerate."
This means Pei Luoan is just seeking fame and reputation, and his previous words about liking Ji Hanyue were also false!
Pei Luoan's expression turned slightly sinister, but he immediately smiled gently: "Second brother is very lucky. I heard that Miss Liu is here today. Do you want to meet her?"
Pei Yusheng shook his head: "Brother, you are joking. This is the place of Lord Jingyu. Miss Liu is just an ordinary guest. She hasn't even received the reply yet. Why should she come here to greet him?"
Liu Lanxin had indeed arrived at this time and was sitting next to Qu Moying on the opposite bank.
Although the opposite lakeshore was close, Liu Jingyu and the others spoke in a low voice and could not be heard clearly.
"Miss Fourth Qu, I heard that the former Crown Princess was your cousin?" Seeing that everyone on the opposite side was looking at her, Liu Lanxin smiled and asked curiously to Qu Moying on the side.
"When my cousin was here, I was still in the manor." Qu Moying smiled, "But my cousin has been very kind to me. For my cousin's sake, I will not hesitate to die!"
"What kind of person was the former Crown Princess?" Liu Lanxin's eyes fell on Liu Jingyu, who was talking to the two royal brothers on the other side of the river. "How does she compare to Jingyu County Lord?"
Several young ladies nearby, upon hearing them talking about this topic, couldn't help but listen attentively.
Qu Moying was silent for a moment, then he looked back at Liu Lanxin, and then said seriously, "In my heart, my cousin is the best."
She doesn't care what others think, but in her heart, Ji Hanyue is the best.
There is nothing wrong with this, especially after hearing that the Crown Princess had sent people to treat Miss Qu Si's eye disease, many ladies nodded secretly. Qu Moying indeed thought so.
It was said before that the fourth young lady of the Qu family loved to interfere in the affairs of the Ling'anbo Mansion, especially the affairs of the first wife of the Ling'anbo Mansion. Now it seems understandable.
"Did something really happen at the Ling'an Marquis's Mansion?" Liu Lanxin asked again. She came to the capital city later and had no contact with other young ladies in the capital city. It was very smooth for her to ask the person opposite her about this past event when she saw him.
If someone else asked this question, they would definitely think that this question has some other meaning.
.
"I don't know... but I want to find my third cousin." Qu Moying said with a cold look in his eyes, "It's impossible for my third cousin to disappear for no reason. There must be some reason... I won't stop until I find my third cousin."
Since Liu Lanxin asked, no matter what her reason was, I could use this opportunity to express my feelings clearly.
I will intervene in the affairs of the Ling Anbo Mansion in the future, and I will have the right to do so.
"Hasn't it been found yet? There's not even any response from the Ministry of Justice?" Liu Lanxin asked in surprise.
Qu Moying looked at her solemnly and nodded.
"If I can be of any help in the future, just tell me. How could a general's daughter just disappear for no reason? This... is impossible!" Liu Lanxin sighed and said sincerely.
The mention of a daughter of a general in her words easily makes people think of her identity. She is also a daughter of a general, so it is natural for her to care about the affairs of the former Crown Princess and her sister.
In the court, as daughters of generals, they represent the same type. People feel sympathy for each other, so even if Miss Liu also pays attention to the affairs of the Ling Anbo Mansion, it will not seem out of place in everyone's eyes.
Qu Moying's long eyelashes fluttered twice, and a hint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes, but it quickly slid across her cold eyes. It turned out that Miss Liu also had her sights set on the Ling Anbo Mansion.
It’s a good idea to start from Ling Anbo’s Mansion instead of the Prince’s Mansion!
If Qu Moying had not guessed that the matter of the assassin at the city gate was related to Miss Liu, the general's daughter, he would have almost believed it, thinking that she was sincerely willing to stand up for her cousin for the sake of her being the daughter of a general.
But in fact, after all, it’s all because of the two people opposite.
The dispute between the Crown Prince and King Jing will inevitably extend to the two people they married, which means that both sides are doomed to be busy. Qu Moying is not sure what Liu Jingyu is going to do now, but he has a vague idea of the goal of this Miss Liu.
She would not refuse. At least with Miss Liu there to stir things up, she still felt it was necessary.
"Thank you, Miss Liu." Qu Moying thanked with a smile. His expression was as calm as ever, but it looked like his gratitude was genuine.
"Miss Qu Si is too polite. I just can't stand it. Ling Anbo is the person my father respects the most, and the former Crown Princess is also... When I was at the border before, the person I wanted to see the most was the former Crown Princess. It's a pity that when I came, she was gone!"
Liu Lanxin's gaze fell to the other side again, and Yin Yu's meaning was obvious.
The other party had finished talking. Liu Jingyu and Qi Xiangyu turned around with a few maids, and Pei Luoan and Pei Yusheng sat down with a group of young masters from aristocratic families.
The table in the middle was reserved for the two of them. There were fewer people at the men's table than at the women's table. The seat in the middle was not only facing the flower stand, but also closest to the other side, so one could see the young ladies from the aristocratic families on the opposite side more directly. When several young ladies were painting on the spot later, they would also be at the forefront here.
The tables have been neatly arranged. In order to avoid it being too messy later, Liu Jingyu has labeled the painting tables with names. Everyone has seen them, so there will be no suspicion of mistakes.
After Liu Jingyu came back, he asked several young ladies who had received the replies to come over and openly displayed the painting topics that the prince had just given them on the spot.
"Flowers and butterflies are the themes, and the rest is up to you ladies to come up with your own ideas."