Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Several people looked in the direction of the voice and saw a girl in a light pink fairy dress reaching out to hold the door. The moment she looked at Xiao Zuochen, a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"Cousin Chen!"

Princess Jiashan lifted her skirt with both hands, nimbly jumped over the threshold, and rushed towards Xiao Zuochen.

Xiao Zuochen was also startled by her reaction. He quickly reached out to catch her, and she threw herself into his arms.

"This child! Why is he like this..."

When the eldest princess saw Princess Jiashan's behavior, she couldn't help but blush for her. How could she have no idea of ​​the differences between men and women? Fortunately, this was her own yard and there was no one else around.

Princess Jiashan didn't think there was anything wrong with it. She raised her head from Xiao Zuochen's arms and smiled sweetly.

"Brother Chen, I haven't seen you for a long time! You didn't come to my birthday party last year, and you didn't attend the banquets held by the palace afterwards, which made me wait in vain every time!"

Xiao Zuochen smiled bitterly. He had been in Wangyan City for most of the last year and didn't even have time to attend the empress dowager's birthday banquet.

"It's my cousin's fault. Get up first. What do you think of lying here?"

Because Princess Jiashan had not yet reached her coming-of-age ceremony and was petite, even the relatively "fragile" Xiao Zuochen could lift her up with just two hands.

Princess Jiashan also obediently let Xiao Zuochen help her up. She did nothing else but smiled at him.

The princess looked at her daughter's infatuated expression and shook her head helplessly. She was still neutral about her daughter's love for Xiao Zuochen.

From the perspective of interests, this is a good thing. The emperor's brother has made Xiao Zuochen the crown prince. Based on her relationship with the emperor, it is not a problem for Jiashan to become the crown princess.

But if he considered his daughter's happiness, Xiao Zuochen would inherit the throne in the future and would definitely have three wives and four concubines. Jiashan had a kind heart, so how could she gain a foothold in the harem on her own?

Thinking of this, the eldest princess shook her head secretly again.

It is a well-known fact to everyone that Princess Jiashan likes His Royal Highness Prince Yun.

"Cousin Ling only has eyes for your cousin Chen. Does that mean cousin Qing is no longer a cousin?"

Seeing his sixth brother's somewhat helpless expression, Xiao Zuoqing wanted to help him divert Princess Jiashan's attention, so he said jokingly.

When Princess Jiashan heard what Xiao Zuochen said, she shifted her gaze and looked at him.

"How could that be? Cousin Qing treats Jiashan the best! Cousin Qing comes to Jiashan's birthday party every year, and Jiashan always remembers it. Unlike some people! Humph~"

Princess Jiashan turned her head to express her dissatisfaction with not seeing Xiao Zuochen for a long time. But when she turned her head, she happened to catch a glimpse of Liuli and Chu Yao.

"Eh? Who are these two brothers? They are so handsome~"

Jiashan is not afraid of strangers, but the eldest princess was unhappy when she heard it. How could anyone be the brother of Princess Jiashan?

"Jiashan, don't yell at people randomly!"

"Oh."

Jiashan responded with a slightly aggrieved tone. No one else said anything. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the eldest princess was a flatterer of the powerful and a bully of the weak. Only Chu Yao was still curling his lips in dissatisfaction. Could it be that the princess was wrong? She was indeed good-looking~

At this moment, a servant came in from outside, bowed to everyone, and then walked to the eldest princess and said something. The eldest princess nodded after listening, and the servant left.

"Okay, I think it's almost time. The guests in the front hall should have arrived. Let's move everyone to the banquet hall."

The eldest princess said this and led everyone towards the banquet hall.

When they arrived at the banquet hall, men and women were already seated separately. When they saw the eldest princess leading Jiashan County, everyone stood up and saluted.

"Greetings to the Princess~Greetings to Princess Jiashan~"

The eldest princess spoke arrogantly only after she took the main seat.

"No need to be polite, please take a seat."

Everyone stood up and sat down, and the servants began to serve the dishes. Then some people began to show their gifts. Most of these people presented valuable items and had something to ask of the princess.

Princess Jiashan listened to their flattery and knew that most of the gifts this year would be the same as in previous years, and there were few that she liked. And looking at the hypocritical faces of those who gave gifts, she felt like she couldn't eat.

Although Princess Jiashan didn't like it, the eldest princess was very pleased with it. Regardless of whether she liked the gift or not, the flattering tone of these people made her feel comfortable.

Just as the third person was introducing his gift and how hard it was to come by, a loud announcement came from outside the door.

"The third prince has arrived——"

The eldest princess was listening attentively, but was interrupted and couldn't help frowning.

Those who wanted to curry favor with the eldest princess immediately started to fawn on her when they saw her expression.

"The banquet has already started, why is the Third Prince just here?"

"Even the two princes, Prince Qing and Prince Yun, came early, so what reason does the Third Prince have to come late?"

"Is it because of the Queen?"

"..."

As one or two people started talking about it, more people started listening and more people started talking about it.

The Third Prince who strode in turned a deaf ear to him. Behind him followed Li Lei, who was holding what should be the gift, but it was just covered with red silk. The Third Prince was only thinking about how to show off the headgear that he had bought for twenty taels of gold.

"Aunt, Zuo Ming is late..."

The third prince walked to the center, clasped his fists and saluted to express his apology. Then he ordered Li Lei behind him to lift the silk, on which was placed an exquisite pear wood carved box. Under the "eyes of the crowd", the third prince opened the wooden box.

The eldest princess, who was originally in a bad mood, became curious about what was inside the exquisite wooden box when she saw it.

The Third Prince slowly opened it, and Princess Jiashan also curiously stuck her head out. When the lifelike emerald butterflies appeared, the women present couldn't help but exclaim.

"What a beautiful emerald butterfly, it looks like the real thing!"

"Is that a complete set of noodles? It looks so finely crafted, it must be very expensive, right?"

"It is said that the Third Prince spent a lot of money to buy it. This style is unique in the capital. I have never seen it before."

Hearing people talking like this, the Third Prince felt proud and then he started to speak in a pretentious manner.

"Aunt, this is a set of jadeite headpieces that my nephew bought from Mi Jin Pavilion at a high price. It is the only one of its kind in Tai'an City and is absolutely top-quality jadeite."

"Is this for me?"

Princess Jiashan was also stunned. Although she had a lot of jewelry, she did not have such a novel and beautiful set of head ornaments.

"Of course, today is your birthday, little cousin~"

The third prince looked at Jiashan with his clear and foolish smile.

It seemed that it was because of the word "little cousin" that Princess Jiashan remembered the third prince in front of her, who was also her cousin.

"Thank you, cousin Ming!"

Seeing that Princess Jiashan liked the gift very much, the Third Prince looked at the Eldest Princess again, waiting for her to say something to praise him.

"Well, Zuoming is thoughtful~"

Hmm? Then what? It's not over now, is it?

The Third Prince did not expect that the Princess would just say this casually and then leave it at that. He stood there in a daze.

Xiao Zuochen, however, watched from the side and laughed secretly. Chu Yao sensed a conspiracy in his smile, nudged him with his elbow, and asked in a low voice.

"what's the situation?"

Xiao Zuochen shook his head to indicate that it was nothing.

"Someone, prepare a seat for the Third Prince."

The princess waved her hand and motioned the third prince to take a seat. The third prince forced a smile and sat down obediently, but he was a little depressed. The seventy-one taels of gold didn't make any sound. What was even more infuriating was that he sat opposite Xiao Zuochen. It was Xiao Zuochen who cheated him out of ten taels of gold in the first place!