Noble Lady

But she didn't have to worry about it for long, because the topic soon turned to the main point.

"It was spreading like wildfire outside before, but now it has just died down. My prince, coming to the mansion at this time, aren't you afraid that people will spread gossip again?" asked Marquis Xue.

Before, people outside made a fuss about Xue Chenyu's divorce and the fact that Madam Xue, a merchant woman, broke off the engagement and married the Marquis. Marquis Xue almost rushed out and fought with them.

Fortunately, Mrs. Xue stopped her.

But he only agreed to ignore it on the surface. In fact, he had already secretly conspired with Situ Zhen to add fuel to the fire.

Only then was Mr. Cui, the second master of the Cui family's East Mansion, sent in.

But Mr. Cui is just the beginning, Han Hongyue is their real target.

It won't be long before he is ruined.

"Marquis Xue, don't worry. The Queen Mother has already invited Miss Xue to the flower viewing banquet. Even if those people outside are blind, they won't discuss Miss Xue's right and wrong at this time."

Situ Zhen was confident.

A divorced Miss Xue, who is talked about by everyone, can get an invitation to the flower viewing banquet, but those who claim to be innocent can't even get a chance to get a piece of the invitation to the flower viewing banquet. Isn't this contradicting themselves?

Anyone who still doesn't restrain himself at this time will only bring shame upon himself.

"Having said that, what if there are a few people who are blind?" Xue Hou touched his newly grown mustache, a little hesitant.

"Mr. Xue, you are my teacher and my savior. I come to visit you, and this is my due."

"Your Majesty governs the world with benevolence and filial piety, and Confucianism advocates benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. If they can find an excuse to throw mud at the Marquis's mansion, then they are reading the sages' books in vain! These gossipers must not be tolerated."

Marquis Xue felt that this was very reasonable and nodded repeatedly.

Xue Chenyu and Xue Chenyu looked at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

After some warm greetings, Situ Zhen asked Princess An Ning to stay.

The princess said she wanted to live with Xue Luoyan. Mrs. Xue was originally worried that she would not be able to entertain the distinguished guest well enough by having her little daughter live with her, but the princess said she liked this girl and insisted on living together.

Mrs. Xue had no choice but to let them go.

Then he asked Uncle Fu to go to the warehouse to get some ornaments that he usually didn't want to use and send them to Xue Luoyan's yard.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Cheng also sought out Xue Chenyu for a private conversation.

Madam Xue and Marquis Xue were both sensible people, so they let them go.

Others wisely avoided it.

……

At that time, Furongju.

Yuzhu and the others served tea and some snacks, then walked away.

Xue Chenyu lowered her head and played with the handkerchief, not knowing what she was thinking.

Situ Zhen suddenly pulled her hand and pulled her into his arms.

This caused Xue Chenyu to scream, "What are you doing? Yuzhu and the others are still watching."

They just walked a little further away and couldn't hear clearly what was said here, but that doesn't mean they couldn't see it.

Situ Zhen didn't think so. He held her in his arms and lowered his head to take a deep breath of her unique fragrance.

"The Lotus Appreciation Banquet must be held eventually, so I'll go ask the Empress Dowager for an invitation. When the time comes, I'll openly let everyone know that I want to marry you as my princess!"

He said this sincerely and passionately, but Xue Chenyu frowned, and she turned away from him angrily and jumped down.

"Your Highness, are you very proud? At the royal flower viewing banquet, I fought tooth and nail for you and all the other noble ladies. We fought to the death, and even got bruised and bloodied. Are you quite proud?"

"You clearly don't know what I meant, yet you still misinterpret me." Prince Cheng pulled her sleeve and shook her back and forth aggrievedly.

Xue Chenyu couldn't stand him making such an aggrieved expression on his face, and turned away uncomfortably.

"What does the prince mean? You should know that there are certain requirements for the ladies to attend the royal flower viewing banquet. My age is not suitable, not to mention that I'm married."

"With my status, I'd just be laughed at if I went there."

"Nonsense, you have a good family background and good looks, not to mention you are kind-hearted and virtuous. I wonder who dares to laugh at you." Situ Zhen said with certainty, and put his hands on her waist in an unruly manner.

Xue Chenyu rolled her eyes speechlessly and held down his restless paws.

"As the old saying goes, it's important for a person to know himself. Prince, when it comes to family background, which of those aristocratic families doesn't have a stronger background and richer heritage than our Wu'an Marquis Mansion?"

"In terms of appearance, I think I'm not bad, but for someone of your status, appearance is never the primary consideration when choosing a concubine."

Family background, ability and morality are the first priority.

Situ Zhen shamelessly came up to her again, hugged her from behind, and then let out a deep sigh of satisfaction.

In the past, he thought flirting was just a frivolous word, but now he felt that the person who invented this word was really a wise man.

"Miss Xue, you only said that it is important for people to know themselves, but there is also a poem that goes, 'Why bother with light green or deep red? ' 'You are the best among flowers.'"

"You are already good, why compare yourself with others?"

Xue Chenyu was so angry that she rolled her eyes at him. Is this a matter of whether she wants to compete or not?

The invitation to the royal flower-viewing banquet has been delivered to her. She has to compete even if she doesn't want to. It's not her choice at all!

then.

Prince Cheng offended Miss Xue with a word and was driven out of Furongju.

Fang Sui: After following my master for so many years, this is the first time I’ve seen him being kicked out.

"Master, what did you do to Miss Xue? How did you make her so angry? Do you want me to plead for you?"

In response to his gloating behavior, Situ Zhen only responded with a sneer.

"You don't understand. You'll know when you have a girl you love."

Fang Sui: My beloved girl, I don’t have any time left for the time being. I just hope Fang Rui can come back soon.

He sighed from the bottom of his heart that not everyone can do the job of following the master.

……

After recuperating from his injuries at home for more than half a month, it is time for Marquis Xue to return to his post.

But this time he did not return to the Ministry of War. After he retired from the border, he took up a sinecure in the Ministry of War. This is also the most common way of placement for retired military generals.

In his spare time, he would occasionally hang out with the people from the Five Cities Military Department, or visit the military camp outside the city.

After his injury healed, His Majesty ordered him to be transferred to the Imperial Guard to serve as a deputy commander.

Although he didn't know what the emperor meant by this move, the Imperial Guards had much more to do than when they were holding idle positions in the Ministry of War, which made Marquis Xue very excited.

"Madam, you know, the Imperial Guard is much more interesting than the Five Cities Army. They have strict rules and everything is in perfect order."

As soon as he came back, he started talking incessantly, as if he had returned to the time when he was with the princess.

He grabbed both Mrs. Xue and Xue Luoyan and took them to listen to the new things happening on their first day at work.

Xue Chenyu escaped the disaster because she was in seclusion and wholeheartedly preparing for the flower viewing banquet. Xue Huai also escaped the disaster because he followed Mr. Lu to the residence of Tong Liang, the Minister of Personnel.

During the meal, Xue Luoyan pulled Xue Chenyu aside to complain bitterly. It was really scary to see his father, who was nearly fifty years old, suddenly dancing excitedly like a young boy.

Xue Chenyu: "..." She could only smile bitterly.

The only one who can listen to Dad talking over and over again without changing her expression and still support him as always and ask him to say more is Mom.

The next day, Concubine Chen also sent news from the palace.

"The Imperial Concubine said that the Empress went to ask for an audience with the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother dismissed the servants, and the two of them talked alone for a long time before coming out."

"After that, the Queen Mother asked Nanny Fang to draft an invitation to the flower-viewing banquet for Miss Han, and then she went to His Majesty's palace with the Queen." Su Ying said.

Because the messages were always delivered through Chen Lizhu, and Chen Lizhu now had matters to attend to at the Duke's Mansion, so it was impossible for her to go to the Marquis' Mansion every time.

So Xue Chenyu discussed with Chen Lizhu and decided to use a special little maid to deliver the message - this way they could communicate the affairs of the manor in a timely manner as well as the news from the palace.

Unexpectedly, the first news spread was about the Queen and the Han family.

The Queen suddenly went to see the Queen Mother, and then took the Queen Mother to see His Majesty, and then took the invitation to the flower viewing banquet?

What did the Queen do?

No, it should be said that she said something to the Queen Mother that persuaded her to go with her to see His Majesty.

The Imperial Concubine had said long before that the Queen was disliked by the Queen Mother and His Majesty because of her eccentric temper. In addition, the incident in which Prince Cheng was almost killed by Han Hongyue made the Queen Mother even more dislikeful of Queen Han, who came from the Han family.

The Queen Mother deliberately excluded the Han family, just like the Cui family, from the flower viewing banquet because Han Hongyue murdered Prince Cheng, and she wanted to avenge her good grandson.

But this time, the Queen Mother actually compromised so easily and even gave the Han family an invitation to the flower viewing banquet?