Duke Jing's younger sister

With a loud shout from the ceremonial officer, Xiao Wenyuan's coming-of-age ceremony officially began.

Prince Rui and the princess sat on the armchairs in the hall, Xiao Wenyuan knelt on the cushion in the middle of the hall, and was surrounded by guests who came to watch the ceremony.

At the foot of the main hall steps, bamboo shadows danced. Under the tree stood a young man in a dark blue robe. He had a handsome appearance and a calm expression. He looked from afar at the Crown Prince of Southern Wu, Xiao Wenhao, who was tying up Xiao Wenyuan's hair.

Luo Jue came closer and followed his line of sight, and said with two "tsk tsk" sounds, "It seems that you are still not on guard enough!"

Suddenly the wind started to blow and the bamboo leaves rustled.

Shen Beiqi chuckled silently, his eyes cold as frost, "Even I didn't notice it. I guess the shadow guards were used. I have to thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for thinking so highly of me."

Although Shen Beiqi often went to Pinxiangzhai, he was not without guard.

Just now, Xiao Wushuang pushed the plate of white jade cake directly in front of him. First, he knew that he often went to Pinxiangzhai, and second, he knew that he only bought one kind of white jade cake when he went to Pinxiangzhai.

He didn't think Xiao Wushuang had the ability to send someone to follow him without being discovered.

The only possibility is that Crown Prince Xiao Wenhao is always paying attention to his every move.

Xiao Wenhao and Xiao Wushuang are both born to the Queen. Xiao Wushuang often went to the East Palace and accidentally spied on his whereabouts from the Prince and learned that he often went to Pinxiangzhai. This possibility is the greatest and most reasonable.

Luo Jue nodded and said,

"Come to think of it, on the day of my grandmother's birthday banquet, the prince clearly went to the hunting ground outside the capital to prepare for the hunt seven days later. He left the city at 9:00 pm and returned to the city at 11:00 pm. He went straight to my house. Don't you find it strange?"

The coming-of-age ceremony in the hall has been completed, and congratulations are heard one after another.

Shen Beiqi lowered his eyes, "What's so strange about that? When he learned that Xiao Wencong went to your house, he naturally rushed back without stopping."

"So, the Crown Prince has become wary of the Third Prince?"

"As long as he has not ascended the throne, he will be wary of the other two princes, even if the third prince is living a life of debauchery and drunkenness every day."

After the ceremony, the guests went to the side hall to have dinner.

Men and women sat at separate tables. When the mistresses of each family sat together, they would inevitably ask a few questions, such as how old each girl was, whether they were talking about others, and which young man of marriageable age was available. And so on.

A woman in a royal blue gown wiped her lips with a handkerchief and glanced from afar at Shen Li who was sitting at the end and eating quietly. This person was Feng, the mistress of the Luo family.

She had met the adopted daughter of the Shen family at her mother-in-law's birthday party.

It’s just that the younger generations were all sitting far away, and when they first arrived at the Luo Mansion to pay their respects, they were also traveling together, so they were unable to say a word to the third young lady of the Shen family.

During the banquet that day, she looked at her troublesome Erlang, who seemed to be very helpful to the girl.

She thought that if the third daughter of the Shen family had not mentioned anyone else, she could consider arranging a marriage for Erlang to calm his uneasy heart.

This way he wouldn't have to yell about going out to explore the world every day, making people want to go crazy.

Thinking of this, Feng smiled and looked at Yang who was sitting diagonally opposite her, "Madam Shen, the second young lady and Master Xiao are about to get married, right?"

Hearing this, Yang put down the teacup in her hand, nodded and smiled, "The wedding date is set for the end of the year."

The wedding date between the Xiao family and the Shen family has been set, and it's all out in the open, so there's no harm in talking about it.

Feng said, "Oh, then we have to congratulate Madam Shen in advance. Don't forget to invite us to the wedding banquet."

"That's right, Zhiyan has found a good husband, Madam Shen must treat us to a glass of wedding wine."

Several ladies around also echoed the voice.

"Of course, I will be waiting for your arrival."

Xiao Wenyuan was indeed extraordinary, and Yang was genuinely happy, with the smile on her face not a bit false.

Feng asked at the right time, "The second and third girls seem to be the same age, right? I wonder if the third girl has found a husband yet?"

Hearing this, the smile on Yang's face faded a little. According to her thoughts, she was still unwilling to announce Shen Li's marriage to the public.

However, Shen Li's betrothal ceremony will be in six days. If he denies it now, and the Shen family makes a big fuss about it, wouldn't he be slapping himself in the face?

Six days ago, she hadn't even been promised to someone, but six days later, the betrothal gifts were brought back to the Shen residence? Who would believe it if I told anyone about it!

Yang couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Feng. Why was she asking this question? "We have already arranged a marriage, and the betrothal gift will be given in a few days."

"Is that so?" Feng said with some regret, "I wonder which family she promised to marry?"

Feng didn't want to get to the bottom of the matter, so she just asked casually. After all, the betrothal was already paid, so what was there to be afraid of?

Yang's smile disappeared completely. After thinking for a moment, she finally said, "Gu family."

"Gu family?" One of the ladies frowned and thought for a moment, "But is he the eldest son of Gu Ruifeng, the Shao Yin of Kaifeng?"

Shao Yin of Kaifeng was a minor official of the sixth rank. The third and second girls, one married the prince of a royal palace, and the other married a minor official of the lower rank. The difference between them was more than heaven and earth.

Yang wanted to get up and leave, but everyone was still waiting for her to say something. It was not right for her to say anything, and it was not right for her to not say anything.

It is better not to hide it. After all, once the betrothal ceremony is over, everyone in Jiangdu will know which family it is.

"No," Yang smiled, "He is from the Gu family of Sizhou, the son of the richest man in Nanwu."

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

The noble lady who was closer to the elders was also startled after hearing this and looked at Shen Li in disbelief.

Feeling countless mixed gazes falling on her, Shen Li looked up, stunned for a moment. Did something happen that she didn't know about?

The scene was so quiet that it was a little awkward. Feng chuckled twice. She had started the conversation herself, so she had to save the situation. "...ah, that's really..." She couldn't say the three words "excellent".

Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans, even if the merchants are wealthy, they are still the lowest class in the world.

Even if he was a scholar or a Jinshi, he would not let his daughter marry into a merchant family.

The high and mighty Jingguo Mansion actually let its own daughter marry into the Gu family of Sizhou?

Thinking of this, the expressions of everyone present became a little subtle.

Yang married her own daughter to Prince Rui's Mansion. She is now the Crown Prince's Consort and will be the Princess of a County Prince in the future.

After all, the third daughter of the Shen family is an adopted daughter, so it is normal for her to be a little partial to him, but this partisanship is almost out of control.

Even though they secretly complained in their hearts, they still had to praise the Sizhou Gu family on the surface. After all, Duke Shen was in a high position and had great power. So everyone had to speak insincerely and praise how great the Sizhou Gu family was.

In the final analysis, it's just about being rich and wealthy. After all, none of them has ever seen the son of the Gu family.

Not knowing what others thought, Han Yunning felt relieved. Since the betrothal was about to begin, it would not pose any threat to her.

She stood up with a smile, walked slowly to Shen Li, and poured her a glass of wine sincerely.

"Sister will be paying her marriage gift soon, elder sister, give this little wine to congratulate her on her great happiness."