I don't want to be the favorite concubine of this palace anymore

After hearing this, Li Jiawan finally nodded and agreed. Her purpose today was to meet Bai Jingchen and find out what he meant.

But whether he is willing to marry her or not, she will force him to marry her.

Seeing that she agreed, Bai Yueli finally smiled. She believed that the prince still had her in his heart. Then she could ask the prince to find a way to cancel her engagement with King Cheng.

Lu Qingxue and An Muxi sat together. An Muxi whispered, "Princess, you should quickly send someone to buy some peach blossom wine. It doesn't matter where it is from. Otherwise, my lie will be exposed when the prince comes back."

Lu Qingxue shook her head and laughed: "You lie so easily, are you afraid now? Don't worry, I have already arranged for someone to buy peach blossom wine."

After that, he gritted his teeth and said, "I don't know where Li Rui is. He said a few days ago that he would come to support the event."

An Muxi comforted him, "It's okay. I see you're serving the male guests quite well. Just hold on and the day will pass quickly."

Lu Qingxue sighed. If she didn't really want to meet that person, she wouldn't have gone to so much trouble to organize this stupid flower-viewing party.

"Fortunately, my brother is here today. I'll ask him and Prince An to help greet the male guests later."

An Muxi was a little curious: "You have a younger brother? I've never heard you mention it. Point it out to me later so I can see what he looks like."

Lu Qingxue was speechless. "Don't let Li Rui know that you want to see another man. That guy is so possessive. Don't make your brother suffer."

Lu Qingxue's brother is Lu Qingfeng, two years younger than her. He is eighteen years old this year and is the heir of Anyang Marquis's Mansion. However, he is relatively low-key and generally doesn't like to go out and party with people. Since the Marquis died in battle, he has become the pillar of Anyang Marquis's Mansion.

Lu Qingfeng served as deputy commander in a military camp outside the imperial capital. Logically, he was not old enough and had insufficient experience, but the emperor took special care of him and gave him a high position because the old marquis sacrificed his life for the country.

He knew what the emperor meant. When he made contributions in the future, he would inherit the title and become the new Marquis of Anyang.

He didn't want to bury the reputation his father had created for Anyang Hou Mansion, so he worked extra hard. Finally, most people in the military camp have forgotten that he got in through connections.

Another belief that supported his efforts was that he wanted to avenge his father. For this reason, he rejected almost all invitations to banquets.

So many people have heard of him but have never seen him. Today happened to be his day off, and he was invited by the Rui Palace, so he came.

Lu Qingfeng, his sister Lu Qingxue, and Li Rui grew up learning martial arts together with Anyang Hou, and they have always had a very good relationship.

Dai Meng, who was sitting next to An Muxi, also stretched his neck curiously and asked Lu Qingxue: "You have a younger brother? Introduce him to me later."

Lu Qingxue held her forehead and thought, how come you women who are already in a relationship are so interested in other men?

Lu Qingxue asked her brother to come over today because she wanted him to see her.

Her mother wrote to her many times, asking her to help her brother keep an eye out for suitable women, as her brother was not young anymore and it was time for him to consider getting married.

But ever since Marquis Anyang died in battle, his younger brother became taciturn and only liked to practice martial arts.

He stayed in the military camp all day and never went home, let alone met any girls. As the only heir to the Anyang Marquis's mansion, he had never found a marriage, which made the Marquis's wife almost worried to death.

The chefs for today's banquet were all brought in from the main kitchen of Prince Rui's Mansion, and the dishes were almost ready one day in advance.

All the dishes were personally supervised by Lu Qingxue, and soon they were served one after another. Although they were slightly inferior to those in the palace, they were still much more exquisite and richer than those in ordinary officials' homes.

Everyone enjoyed the meal, and a low-alcohol fruit wine was specially prepared for the woman.

For the men, they prepared a drink called Xiangquan, which was brewed with spring water and grain from the mountains. It tasted sweet and refreshing.

An Muxi, Lu Qingxue, Dai Meng and the others ate something and started chatting. Of course, most of the time, An Muxi asked questions and Dai Meng answered.

The few people completely ignored Dai Zhen who was left aside. She was so angry that she turned her grief and anger into appetite. She used food to vent her anger on Dai Meng and An Muxi. The dish tasted really good and she couldn't help but eat a little too much.

She felt so full that she felt uncomfortable, and no one paid any attention to her. She felt a little bored, so she walked outside.

Dai Meng and the others didn't notice her leaving and continued chatting.

An Muxi said teasingly: "Some people really value love over friendship. Sister Meng, tell me quickly, what happened between you and Prince An?"

Dai Meng chuckled: "What else can it be? It's very harmonious."

When Lu Qingxue heard this, she asked in surprise, "Are you guys done that already?"

Dai Meng smiled and said, "What are you thinking? Although I got a small advantage, I will save my first time for the day of my wedding. I want to leave An An with the most perfect wedding night."

An Muxi sighed: "It's great that Li Yi'an has you, the Crown Princess, to protect him. I feel relieved as a friend. Your personalities complement each other very well.

By the way, what's going on with your sister? Why is she staying in Prince An's mansion? Shouldn't she be staying at the Royal Inn?"

A few people glanced sideways and saw that Dai Zhen was no longer in her seat. They didn't care and spoke of her even more unscrupulously.

Dai Meng said disdainfully: "She has taken a fancy to An An, and I can't do anything if she refuses to leave."

An Muxi and Lu Qingxue were both shocked: "Aren't you afraid that she will do something weird? Li Yian is so innocent, what if she really succeeds?"

Dai Meng said: "I have already told An An to stay away from her. Although An An is simple, she is not a fool. An An knows what she is thinking.

Besides, I am here, so she can’t make any waves.”

An Muxi said: "Your sister really looks like a fox. With those fox eyes, ordinary men may not be able to resist her temptation."

Logically speaking, Dai Zhen is one year younger than Dai Meng, only sixteen years old, so why does she have such a charming feeling?

Dai Meng sneered, "She looks just like her foxy father. She has been keeping male lovers since she was fifteen years old. She often brags to me about how good she is in bed and how all men are crazy about her."

An Muxi thought to herself that this was not a princess at all, she was simply a good candidate for being an oiran. However, she couldn't tell Dai Meng this, after all, she was her biological sister.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Lu Qingxue stood up and arranged for everyone to go out and appreciate the plum blossoms.

An Muxi pulled Dai Meng to go out for a walk. The noble ladies went out in twos and threes.

The main road in the center behind the main hall divides the garden area for men and women into two parts.

There are also paths extending out and pavilions for rest in the plum garden. Men and women consciously visit the garden separately, and on the surface they all observe etiquette.

At this time, Jianying and Jianfeng rode on horseback, escorting two carriages into the hot spring villa. A man got off the first carriage, and from a distance he seemed to be King Rui.

After the carriage stopped, Jianying ordered the servants in the villa to move the peach blossom wine out of the carriage at the back. Li Rui led the two into the hall.

Most of the people in the hall had left, but there were still a few who saw Li Rui coming and prepared to come over to say hello.

Unexpectedly, Li Rui ignored them and went upstairs with his guards. They could only walk out in embarrassment.

Lu Qingxue was instructing the servants to clean up the banquet hall and arrange the lounge for everyone. When she saw Li Rui, Jianying and Jianfeng coming over, she finally felt relieved. But the first thing Jianying said to her was.

"We met the people you arranged to buy wine on the road. The prince inside was a guard in disguise. The prince may come back late today. Please help cover it up, Princess."