This was the first time that Princess Chang'an's family invited so many people.
In previous years, most of the guests invited to the banquet were Princess Changying. Now that Princess Changying was in trouble, it was her turn to host the banquet. Because it was a family banquet, there was no separation between men and women. Several tables were set up in the pavilion, and it was more lively.
The pavilion of the princess's mansion was very spacious, with plenty of room for four tables. Daffodils and bougainvillea dotted the sides, making it both festive and comfortable.
Princess Linjiang liked the decoration as soon as she saw it, and couldn't help but praise Princess Chang'an for her good decoration.
Princess Chang'an laughed and said, "I didn't arrange this. Ah Sheng liked it, so she arranged it this way... I said it was too troublesome, but she just liked to take care of it..."
Xianrong County Lady hung her head, a little embarrassed, and Princess Linjiang shook her head with a smile on her face: "That's good, girls should be quiet and gentle, that's the way to live."
Princess Chang'an scolded her: "Don't spoil her, otherwise she will become even more lawless."
She also talked about the time when Princess Xianrong came to the palace and gave flowers to the Empress and Consort De: "The Empress likes green plums and said that the flowers this girl arranged are beautiful, but it's a pity that the Fourth Prince doesn't like them..."
This was to reveal to Prince Linjiang that the Fourth Prince's temper was even more violent now.
Princess Linjiang listened and smiled: "Everyone has their own taste. Some people don't like flowers. I like flowers, but it's a pity that I have to leave soon. Otherwise, I would like to ask Ah Sheng for advice on how to grow daffodils to make them water spirits."
After chatting and laughing for a while, Xianrong County Lady looked at Shen Chen again, smiled and asked him: "All your cousins have found their place, why are you the only one who has not yet made up your mind?"
She couldn't help but joke, "Could it be that you really have a crush on someone?"
King Linjiang couldn't help but glared at Shen Chen and sneered: "You didn't learn the good things, but you learned these things 100%, you are totally useless!"
Prince Consort Yuan quickly tried to smooth things over: "As a child, everyone has a time when they are young and frivolous. Don't talk about him. The more you talk about him, the more he feels that he is right."
Princess Chang'an also echoed.
The Lady of Xianrong County took the opportunity to take a look at Shen Chen. She used to look down on Shen Chen and thought that he was a complete playboy without any merits at all.
But recently, she often followed her mother in and out and found out that Shen Chen was not a playboy at all, but a hidden ambitious man.
Chu Jingxing was also framed by him, which led to such a big setback, and King Linjiang replaced all the people around him.
Because of this, she always felt that Shen Chen's usual casual smile had some indescribable meaning, so she turned her eyes away and looked at Chu Jingxing again.
Chu Jingxing noticed it and gave her a slight smile.
Princess Xianrong lowered her head in embarrassment. All the uneasiness and anxiety in her heart were calmed down, and she let out a breath.
When the wine was half drunk, Princess Chang'an glanced at Chu Jingxing and mentioned Yuan Hongwen's marriage: "I think Hongwen is not young anymore, and he should have started a family... But I just can't find a suitable candidate..."
After telling the Xiao family about his intention to propose marriage, he said softly, "This is also a rare opportunity. I heard that all the girls in the Xiao family are good, so I discussed it with my husband and planned to ask for a girl from the Xiao family for Hong Wen to marry."
King Linjiang stopped eating his chopsticks thoughtfully, glanced at Chu Jingxing, and then asked casually, "Why did you think of marrying into the Xiao family?"
"Madam Mei once praised the Xiao family lady in front of me, saying that the Xiao family lady has a gentle temperament and a good reputation. I thought that Hong Wen is lawless and needs someone to control him..." Princess Chang'an looked back at King Linjiang calmly: "She will be a right-hand man in the future."
This is a direct expression of one's feelings.
Perhaps she had invited them here this time with this intention in mind.
After all, Princess Chang'an is a smart person and should be able to see the turbulent situation between the two palaces.
King Linjiang laughed and said, "How can I know about the affairs between you women? Since everyone says that the daughter of the Xiao family is good, it must be true. After all, the daughters from big families can't be bad at handling things."
Princess Chang'an also laughed softly: "That's exactly what I mean. Since we are well matched and of similar age, I am attracted to him."
He chatted with the absent-minded Princess Jin for a few more words, and only let everyone leave when it was almost curfew.
Prince Linjiang made an exception and let Shen Chen go first, letting Chu Jingwu ride with Princess Linjiang. He and Chu Jingxing rode in the same carriage. As soon as he got on the carriage, he asked him directly, "Did you arrange this marriage?"
No one knows the relationship between the Xiao family and Chu Jingxing better than him.
When Xia Song was the lecturer in the palace, Xiao Yu was also the deputy director of the Imperial College and served as a lecturer in the Linjiang Palace. Compared with Xia Song, the relationship between Xiao Yu and Chu Jingxing was a true master and apprentice relationship.
Chu Jingxing respected Xiao Yu very much, and Xiao Yu also treated Chu Jingxing very well and cared for him.
Over the years, the Xiao family has always maintained an excellent relationship with the Linjiang Palace.
The Xiao family is an extremely wise family. Originally, Xia Song was the president of the Hanlin Academy and the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, and he and Xiao Yu had a superior-subordinate relationship. But after the death of the previous emperor and the accession of Emperor Longqing, Xia Song continued to serve as an official, but Xiao Yu chose to retire at the right time.
If Chu Jingxing hadn't been the one to make the connections, the Chang'an Princess's Mansion would not have been able to marry into the Xiao family.
Chu Jingxing did not deny it. He answered honestly and said, "The Princess Chang'an was attracted by the reputation of the Xiao family and wanted to marry into the Xiao family. She also knew about my previous relationship with the Xiao family, so she asked me to do it... My son thought it was not a bad thing. This way, the Princess's Mansion would be closer to us, so he agreed on his own initiative. But I still asked my aunt to ask you first..."
King Linjiang listened in silence, looked at him, and said "oh" meaningfully.
He knew that his eldest son had always been restless and insecure, and felt that he valued his second son more than him, so he had always been tolerant of him.
But this tolerance has its limits.
He stared at Chu Jingxing until he lowered his head. After thinking for a while, he said, "I plan to leave your brother in the capital with you."
Chu Jingxing looked up in surprise, and was unable to react for a moment.
"The Empress's intention is very clear. She wants me to keep both of my legitimate sons. If we insist on not doing so, it's doubtful whether we can return to our fiefdom..." King Linjiang coughed, and seeing his eldest son's complicated expression, he said calmly, "I hope you can understand through this incident that as a parent, you may not be able to treat your children equally, but you will not be extremely partial to any one of them."