The regent is determined to get the daughter of a minor official.

The princess walked over gracefully and opened her red lips.

"Isn't this Shen Xiuzhuan, the top scholar of this year's imperial examination and the Hanlin Academy? Why are you drinking alone here? Could it be that even this beautiful scenery and beautiful women don't catch your eye?"

Shen Qingfeng put down his wine glass, stood up and saluted.

"Your Highness, I was just bored for a moment and disturbed your pleasure. I hope you will forgive me."

Princess Jianning chuckled and walked to the stone bench to sit opposite Shen Qingfeng.

"Forgive me? Then tell me what's bothering you. Perhaps I can help you."

Shen Qingfeng hesitated for a moment and finally spoke.

"It's just some romantic things, let's not talk about it."

The princess's beautiful eyes moved.

"Oh? A love story? I'm curious."

The two of them started chatting back and forth.

Everyone around them tactfully retreated to a distance, leaving them alone in the pavilion by the winding stream, where the conversation became increasingly in-depth.

……

Xu Keke and Dingdang returned to the Xu family. The second wife held her daughter's hand with a smile on her face and kept asking questions.

"My dear girl, did anyone deliberately make things difficult for you at the flower viewing banquet at the princess's mansion?"

Xu Keke shook her head slightly, smiled, and helped the second wife into the house and sat down.

"Mother, no one is giving my daughter any trouble, you don't have to worry."

The second wife finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then have you made any acquaintances with any noble or powerful men or women?"

Xu Keke thought about it and nodded slightly.

"I did have a pleasant conversation with Miss Li from the Prime Minister's Mansion, but it was just our first acquaintance, so it wasn't easy to have an in-depth conversation."

The second wife was a little disappointed, but she quickly cheered up.

"That's okay, there will be opportunities in the future. Make more friends so that you don't end up alone every time you attend a gathering of noble ladies."

Xu Keke nodded and signaled Dingdang to take out the reward.

"Mother, when I said goodbye, Princess Jianning gave me a welcome gift, so it was worth the trip."

The second wife opened the brocade box and saw the white jade Guanyin. Her eyes lit up and she kept muttering.

"This Jade Guanyin is a valuable item. Giving it to a girl signifies fertility and good fortune. Princess, you are truly thoughtful."

As they were speaking, Xu Keke's father Xu Linyun walked in and the second wife hurriedly stood up.

"Master, how come you're back home now?"

Xu Linyun glanced at the Jade Guanyin and asked with a smile.

"Madam, dear girl, where did you get this Jade Guanyin?"

Xu Keke responded obediently.

"Dad, I'm going to a flower viewing banquet today. This Jade Guanyin statue is a gift from Princess Jianning."

The second master Xu Linyun nodded and looked at the second lady.

"Madam, please arrange for the kitchen in the mansion to prepare a fine dinner. His Royal Highness the Regent has sent a message that he will be having a family dinner at our mansion tonight."

When these words were spoken, the Second Madam, Xu Keke, Aunt Ding, and Dingdang all widened their eyes.

The second master looked at their identical expressions and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Why, are you flattered? It is truly a great honor for the Regent to come and share a family dinner with us."

"Master is right. I will go and arrange for the kitchen to prepare it. Aunt Ding will accompany me."

The second wife came to her senses and took Madam Ding to the kitchen of the mansion.

The second master smiled as he watched the master and servant leave, stroked his beard, and turned around to see Xu Keke still standing there in a daze.

"My dear girl, are you overjoyed to hear that the Regent is coming?"

Xu Keke shuddered. How could her father know that she was so happy? She was just frightened.

I bowed, Xu Keke said respectfully to the second master.

"Daddy, I understand. I'll go back to the backyard and change into my home clothes."

As he said this, he was about to pull Dingdang away.

The second master called them over and pointed at the brocade box on the table.

"Look how anxious you are. Take the princess's gift back to your room and keep it safe. These goodies will be your dowry in the future."

Dingdang hurriedly picked up the brocade box and followed Xu Keke to the backyard.

Xu Keke and Dingdang trotted back to the room. Xu Keke sat on the chair panting, his heart still pounding.

Dingdang put the brocade box into the secret compartment of the yellow wooden carved wardrobe, and took out a goose yellow gold-thread cloud-mist silk dress from the wardrobe.

"Miss, I think this dress is perfect for you tonight. It's soft and silky, and it makes your complexion look even whiter than jade."

Xu Keke looked at the dress and shook her head.

"Dingdang, this dress was brought back from Prince Sheng's Mansion. It's not suitable for my current status. Let's take an old dress!"

Just then, there was a noise outside. It turned out that the kitchen purchasing lady came over to ask Xu Keke if there was any dish she particularly wanted to eat.

Xu Keke didn't have the energy to care about these things and just sent the purchasing woman away casually.

Dingdang took out a light blue dress with scattered flowers and came over to help Xu Keke take off her clothes and put them on.

After changing her clothes, Xu Keke sat in front of the dressing table. Dingdang changed her hair into a bun, inserted an exquisite jewel hairpin, and hung a gold headband on her forehead.

Looking at her incredibly beautiful self in the mirror, Xu Keke clicked her tongue twice.

It is indeed beautiful, no wonder the crazy prince refused to stop.

Then he thought of Chu Musheng's noble and elegant appearance, and felt that he was not at a disadvantage.

After packing up, seeing that it was still early, Xu Keke and Dingdang embroidered flowers in their boudoir for a while.

At noon, a report came from the second-class maid Xiaohong outside that the Regent Chu Musheng had arrived.

Xu Keke quickly stood up and went to the front hall with Dingdang. Together with her parents and younger brother, they went out of the house to welcome the Regent.

Chu Musheng was seen wearing a black brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist, with an upright and handsome figure. He stepped out of the carriage under the protection of a group of guards.

The second master stepped out from the crowd and bowed.

"Welcome, Prince Regent! Your Highness's presence at my humble abode brings honor to the Xu family."

The second lady, Xu Keke and Xu Chaoran behind him also followed suit and saluted.

After everyone saluted, Chu Musheng said with a smile.

"No need to be so polite. Today is just a family dinner, so just be casual."

"Your Majesty, please come inside."

The second master bent over and led the way in front.

Everyone came to the dining hall and sat down according to their order of importance.

Chu Musheng sat in the main seat, Xu Linyun and his wife sat beside him, and Xu Keke and Xu Chaoran sat at the bottom.

Soon, the maids filed in and presented delicious dishes. Chu Musheng tasted the dish first and nodded slightly.

"The chef at Lord Xu's house is quite skilled."

Xu Linyun quickly said, "It is my honor that Your Highness likes it."

The chef in charge of cooking today was specially called by the Second Madam by sending Madam Ding to Ruyi Teahouse, so the food he cooks is naturally not bad.

During the meal, Xu Linyun tried to find some topics to talk to Chu Musheng, mostly about court affairs and interesting stories in the capital.

Chu Musheng occasionally responded, but his eyes would fall on Xu Keke from time to time.

Xu Keke felt like a thorn in her back, but she couldn't show any abnormality, so she could only lower her head and eat in silence.

At this time, Xu Chaoran suddenly stood up and toasted Chu Musheng.

"Your Highness, I offer you a toast. May everything go well for you."

Chu Musheng looked at him with a smile.

"Young Master is still young, it's not appropriate for him to drink alcohol. Let's have tea instead!"

The second wife looked at Chu Musheng gratefully and asked the maid serving beside her to change a cup of tea for her youngest son.

Chu Musheng and Xu Chaoran clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

Then the second master toasted.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table became more lively and everyone's faces were filled with smiles.

Chu Musheng put down his wine glass and looked at Xu Keke.

"I've heard that Miss Xu is very talented. Could you please play a piece for me today?"