Shipin Dalizheng

Soon they arrived at the gate of Xie's mansion. After handing over the invitation, the welcoming attendant said, "Prince Rong, it's not that I'm nosy. There are many guests in the mansion today. One invitation can only bring two people. Look at this..."

Rong Zhan and Rong Wanli looked at each other, and Rong Wanli said, "Master, I will stay outside."

He is good at martial arts, so maybe he can sneak in from somewhere else.

Du Shaokang said: "No need, I didn't bring any servants with me, so it's mine."

The manager didn't say much and signaled the servant to lead the way in. But when they heard a long string of silver bell-like laughter, several people turned their heads and saw Tang Yunuan in a red dress, with her rings and bracelets jingling, swaying towards them.

But she was stopped at the door by the steward, "Miss Tang, the invitations we sent out are all for the daughters of the legitimate wives of various families. Look at this..."

This immediately caused several people to burst into laughter, pointing at her and saying, "Exactly, a concubine's daughter of a fifth-rank official is unworthy of attending a banquet at the Xie Mansion."

"She's trying to find a rich husband. Everyone knows she almost married that loser Jin Yaoyang."

After Jin Yaoyang's death, Hua Niang spread the news that he spent money recklessly in the brothel. She said that he was incapable of doing anything and that he would rather be rumored to be a playboy than be accused of being incompetent just for the sake of face.

"She was lucky that Jin Yaoyang died before she got married, otherwise she would have been a widow her whole life."

"That's not necessarily true. I heard that the Jin family is very bold and unrestrained."

Giving each other the kind of looks you understand.

Tang Yunuan was furious. "You are talking nonsense. Jin Yaoyang and I have nothing to do with each other. We don't even have a marriage certificate. The one who has an engagement with our Tang family is Rong Shizi. I am the eldest daughter in the family, so of course this marriage is mine."

Those who knew the inside story scoffed. "What? Back then, Jin Yaoyang wanted to replace Prince Rong as the heir to the Bo Mansion, and this Tang Yunuan replaced the legitimate sister and claimed to be engaged to the Bo Mansion's future prince. Well, a bastard son and a bastard daughter, it's quite fitting. Now that the fake one is dead, she wants to rely on the real prince again. How shameless."

The sound was not loud, but it almost peeled off Tang Yunuan's face.

Tang Yu Nuan was almost crying with embarrassment. She argued to the steward, "Then why did the invitation have to be sent to the Tang Mansion? I'm the only young lady in the Tang Mansion now. Who else should I invite if not me?"

Suddenly, he saw Rong Tang out of the corner of his eye and, despite the steward's attempts to stop him, he rushed towards him, "Prince Rong, isn't what I said reasonable? Whose arranged marriage wouldn't be for the eldest daughter, but for the second daughter?"

Rong Tang took a step back, and Rong Zhan blocked her. She didn't care about her reputation, and she couldn't get into trouble like this. "Miss Tang's reason is not valid. When my mother and Madam Tang arranged a marriage, it must have been her own belly, not a concubine's. If she wanted to marry a concubine, my mother wouldn't agree."

A burst of laughter came from Princess Zhaoling, who had just stepped off the royal carriage. Everyone bowed together, "Greetings, Princess."

"Everyone is free of charge."

Zhao Ling, holding her light purple smoky silk skirt, hurried inside a few steps, pushed Tang Yunuan aside, and said crisply, "Cousin Tang."

Zhao Ling looks like Concubine Rong. Rong Tang felt familiar when he saw her, as if he saw the shadow of his mother in his previous life. The warm smile in her eyes was as bright as a flower.

"Cousin Zhao Ling."

They simply ignored the others and walked in together.

Beside another newly arrived carriage, Tang Tiantian shrank back and whispered, "Third sister-in-law, I'll go back!"

Third cousin Feng grabbed her hand tightly to prevent her from escaping. "Why are you saying that? You are the legitimate daughter of the Tang family, the legitimate fiancée of Prince Rong. When you marry into the Earl's Mansion, you will be able to welcome and send off guests. How can you not see outsiders? Have you forgotten what your grandmother and aunt told you?"

The invitation to Tang Tiantian was sent to the Tang family, and this year the Sima family also received the invitation. Old Madam Sima suspected that the other party had taken a fancy to one of her grandsons, so she sent her third grandson's wife to test the waters.

As for the unmarried men of the Sima family, they have no time for that. They are all immersed in the bustling manufacturing industry and cannot extricate themselves.

Feng handed over the invitation, and the housekeeper politely had someone lead them into the house, but he only took a few more glances at Tang Tiantian, who had special appearance features.

The scandal of the Tang family was widely spread. Of course, the ugliest person among them was Lord Tang. People still sympathized with Madam Tang and her son. The only difference was that Madam Tang insisted on breaking up the relationship. The circle of noble ladies in Beijing had mixed opinions on the matter.

Tang Yunuan was ultimately rejected. Tears welled up in her eyes as she returned to the Tang family, sobbing. She had been incredibly unlucky lately. Her promising marriage had fallen through, and her family was plagued by scandal. As a concubine's daughter, marriage was even more difficult, with fewer and fewer matchmakers visiting. From being a concubine's daughter in an official family, she gradually fell to the level of a minor official. How could she accept this?

Feng pulled Tang Tiantian and walked forward in a sluggish manner. Tang Tiantian's steps were slightly resistant. "Third sister-in-law, don't chase after him. If my family sees me, they will think I came here specifically to chase after Rong Shizi. They will laugh at me."

Feng was so disappointed that she said, "So what if you came here just to chase him? Who can laugh at you?"

She knew that her cousin had been suppressed by Lord Tang since she was a child, so she rarely went out and had a low self-esteem. However, she was going to marry into the uncle's house and become the eldest wife, so she had to change her timid nature.

In reality, she didn't know that Tang Tiantian wasn't as cowardly as she'd assumed. She'd previously been reluctant to argue because she feared it would embarrass her mother. Now that the truth was out and her mother had gotten out of her predicament, what was there to fear?

It would be great if Rong Tang liked her, but if he didn't, it would be pointless to chase after him.

Seeing Rong Tang and Zhao Ling walking together and being taken away by another steward of the Xie Mansion, and since outsiders were not allowed to enter that direction, they gave up their thoughts and let the maid lead them into the hanging flower gate of the west courtyard where the second branch of the Xie family lived, and directly into the Jinlan Pavilion where the banquet was held.

The courtyard that Rong Tang was invited into was the main courtyard of the Xie Mansion, where Grand Tutor Xie lived. Today's banquet was held under the name of the second house recognizing its daughter, so Grand Tutor Xie should not have been the host.

Rong Tang also didn't think he was qualified to be received alone by Master Xie.

Zhao Ling said, "This princess is going too. Grand Tutor Xie also taught this princess. He is my teacher. It's a good opportunity to say hello."

The person in charge didn't dare to stop them, so he let them in.

After entering, except for Rong Tang, everyone else was left in the flower hall to drink tea. Master Xie made it clear that Rong Tang was the only one there.

Rong Zhan naturally refused to stay, so Rong Tang said, "This is my confidant. He is good at killing people, setting fires, and destroying corpses. No private matters can be hidden from him. He must follow me."

The steward's mouth twitched, and he saw Taifu Xie's personal guard coming over to pass on the message, "Taifu asked Rong Shizi to accompany him with guards."

They were all people of status and afraid of death, and Taifu Xie fully understood this.

Rong Tang followed him to Taifu Xie's study. As soon as he entered, he felt that the person in front of him looked very familiar, the kind of familiarity that made people doubt their blood relationship.

Rong Tang's facial features are similar to Feng Ling's, but his ears and face shape are similar to those of Master Xie, especially his chin. Both of them have neutral faces that appear gentle among men and heroic among women.

Taifu Xie himself was also distracted. If he hadn't been sure that he and Madam Rong had no affair, he would have thought...

Rong Tang also subconsciously touched his ears and chin. These two places are genetic dominant points. She looks like Feng Ling because Feng Ling is indeed her biological father, and she looks like Master Xie because his biological mother's surname is Xie. It is not impossible that she looks a bit like her cousin.

Taifu Xie was obviously surprised. He had also heard people talking about how Prince Rong looked a bit like him, and he thought they were joking. But now, he felt more like him than his own son or grandson.

He rolled his throat and asked softly, "Are you from the south?"