Becoming a widow for the sake of good fortune? The short-lived prince lived a hundred years

The Sixth Prince murmured, "The Xuanyu Army is both our success and our failure. If the Wen family hadn't controlled this private army, perhaps they wouldn't have been wiped out more than twenty years ago!"

"Your Highness, please be careful with your words!" Mr. Yu reminded immediately.

Even if there was no one else here, even in this entire courtyard, not even a fly could fly in without the Sixth Prince's permission.

The Sixth Prince touched his nose, laughed, and changed the subject: "The Wen family has been dead in battle for more than 20 years. Now the Wen family has no descendants!"

"Who knows?" Mr. Yu smiled. "Doesn't the Wen family still have a descendant? If your fifth brother wasn't a descendant of the Wen family, he wouldn't be bedridden right now."

The Sixth Prince laughed. "Mr. Yu, do you think my good fifth brother knows about this? Does he know about the Xuanyu Army?"

Mr. Yu thought deeply for a long time before saying, "He probably doesn't know! No one would tell him this news. Besides, his body wouldn't allow it!"

"No, I think there must be something I don't know!" The Sixth Prince narrowed his eyes. "Otherwise, why would Father suddenly bring up the marriage with the Weiyuan Marquisate when he was about to die, and even bring forward the wedding date so that he could have a happy occasion? Father wanted to..."

The Sixth Prince paused, and said almost in unison with Mr. Yu: "Let Marquis Weiyuan obtain the Xuanyu Army!"

After saying this, the Sixth Prince shook his head again and again: "But does the Xuanyu Army really still exist in this world? If the Xuanyu Army still exists, how could the battle with the Wen family be so tragic?"

Mr. Yu also nodded in agreement. "Back then, the entire Wen family died on the battlefield, leaving behind only an orphan girl, who later became the Concubine Chen. However, the Concubine Chen was a woman from the harem and had never been to the battlefield, so the Xuanyu Army might not even exist!"

"That's it, then?" The Sixth Prince spread his hands. "The Black Feather Army, so coveted by so many, may ultimately exist only in legend. So why would I bother with Yan..."

"Your Highness!" Mr. Yu interrupted him. "Whether you're targeting the Xuanyu Army or not, you can still win over the Weiyuan Marquisate. And even if Prince An doesn't live long, there's no need to make enemies!"

The Sixth Prince nodded thoughtfully.

Mr. Yu changed the subject, "But the Xuanyu Army's token might not just be related to the Xuanyu Army. A while ago, one of our people reported back that someone in the north claimed that the token contained a treasure map, and the treasure inside was the royal treasures of the previous dynasty that were plundered by the ancestors of the Wen family."

The Sixth Prince's face darkened: "Really?"

“No one has confirmed it yet, but I’d rather believe it!”

The Sixth Prince pondered, "Then Sir, you were wrong. If this thing really exists, Old Five is not insignificant, but a grave threat!"

Mr. Yu laughed. "Your Highness, if the rumor is true, it is indeed as you said. But now we don't know whether the rumor is true or not. I am more inclined to believe that this news was deliberately released by someone with ulterior motives."

The day of the Spring Banquet soon arrived.

Langqing Garden is a very famous private garden in the capital.

It was the property bestowed by Emperor Yongxi to King Chu Xiongfei of Han.

However, after the King of Han renovated this place, he often lent it to people to host activities and gatherings.

After all, the facilities here are complete and the place is elegant.

At this moment, there was a clamor of carriages and horses at the gate of Langqing Villa.

Although the banquet was hosted by the Prime Minister's daughter, Zou Zhifei, many people were invited, and even some elderly ladies came with their daughters.

The sons of nobles and important officials in the capital would certainly not miss such a lively occasion.

However, such banquets usually have their own rules, and how to receive guests and how to arrange their entry are all in order.

Yan Xueqi arrived early, and when her and her brother's carriage arrived at the door, they happened to meet Xue Rongrong and Qi Mingyu.

"Mingyu! Rongrong!"

Yan Xueqi greeted with a smile.

Qi Mingyu also showed a gentle smile, and his eyes fell on Yan Xueqi, his eyes deepening.

Yan Xueqi has a pretty appearance. The lake blue Ruyi embroidered water-rippled skirt she wears spreads out on her body like ripples on water. She is fresh yet elegant, lively yet charming, which makes people's eyes bright.

"Xueqi, you look so beautiful today. This dress is also beautiful. It is worthy of being carefully crafted by Madam Feng Pianxianfeng!"

Yan Xueqi smiled reservedly: "That's all thanks to you guys not participating, otherwise I wouldn't be able to take the photo!"

Xue Rongrong continued, "You're talking about that set Mingyu bid for last time, which was a full 1,300 taels. I don't know what's wrong with Yunshangju, but one person can only bid for one set a year. They say they'll release a set of clothes made by Madam Feng once a month, but even if you bid, you might not get it. We haven't been able to get it for the past few months. This time, you're lucky!"

Yan Xueqi listened to those sour words, and her eyes showed even more pride. Last month, Xue Rongrong had won the bid for 750 taels at the beginning of the month, but at the end of the month, Madam Feng did not deliver the goods at all, the transaction was cancelled, and the deposit was returned.

It was clearly agreed that one set would be sold per month, and the auction would also be held once a month.

But Feng Pianpian can produce four or five sets a year, which is already a lot.

But Yunshangju didn't say that Madam Feng was lazy. Instead, they set a strange rule: if there is no goods to sell, then you have no chance to buy. If you win the bid and get the goods, you cannot bid again within one year. If you don't win the bid, you can't participate in the auction again within the next three months.

Otherwise, a set of clothes wouldn’t be sold at such a sky-high price!

She smiled and said, "I'm really lucky. In fact, I didn't expect that Lady Feng would actually deliver this month. It just happened to be in time for the Spring Festival Banquet."

Qi Mingyu smiled and said, "Xueqi, you will definitely outshine everyone else today. Everyone's attention will be on you!"

Yan Xueqi smiled modestly: "With Mingyu and Zhifei here, you can't say for sure!"

These three talented women, on the surface, seemed harmonious, but who in private didn't want to outdo the other two? She spoke modestly, but the raised corners of her lips, the smugness in her eyes, told her she wasn't sincere.

Xue Rongrong approached Yan Xueqi and asked, "Is your country bumpkin sister coming today?"

Last time, she was slapped for no reason and her carriage was smashed. Her father complained to the emperor and paid compensation. When he came back, he told her not to cause trouble.

How could she cause trouble?

It was clearly that country bumpkin who provoked her.

Also, Prince An was a bad man. He and Mingyu were childhood sweethearts, but he married someone else right away, which made Mingyu feel bad at that time.

If a country bumpkin dares to come today, haha!

Yan Xueqi smiled and said, "I don't think she will come!" Who would send an invitation to a country girl on such a grand occasion?

Qi Mingyu's eyes flashed. She had just learned some things recently, so she was very sure that someone would invite those two people.

The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked inside. Once they entered the courtyard, they saw the young lady of the Prime Minister's residence, Zou Zhifei, standing in the corridor with bright eyes and a gentle gaze. She was only twenty-eight years old, just like a flower in bloom in spring, delicate and charming.

She wore a long, lavender brocade gown, tied with a matching ribbon at the waist, outlining her slender figure. Her skirt fluttered, and her face, like a finely carved jade, was fair and delicate. Her eyes, like a shimmering autumn water, shimmered with light. Her gaze was full of life, revealing a lively beauty. Her demeanor exuded an innate nobility, a temperament cultivated through long years in the Prime Minister's residence, the fine education and nurturing she had received. Every movement was perfectly measured, neither ostentatious nor restrained.

Several noble ladies surrounded her, talking about something. After a while, a maid came over and led the noble ladies to continue walking inside.

Zou Zhifei watched them leave with a smile, and when she turned around, she saw Yan Xueqi and the other two.

The smile on her lips seemed to deepen a little, and she walked over with a smile: "I was wondering who caught my eye, it turns out it's you three!"