Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Sensing that the person next to her was a little scared, Shen Sangwan gently squeezed their hand and softly comforted them, "Just think of it as navigating the social circles of the real world."

Although she said that, she wasn't really sure herself, since there were some differences between working in the imperial court and living at home.

For a moment, she was unsure whether she had brought Shuyan along to plan for the future or to bolster her own courage.

As we passed through the front yard, we saw many young ladies from prominent families gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing.

The butler led the two of them directly to the main hall.

The first seat was occupied by Princess Consort Sheng, who was nearly fifty years old but was very well-preserved, with a kind face that gave people a sense of approachability.

"Sang Wan greets Your Majesty."

Shen Sangwan clasped her hands in a military salute, while Shuyan knelt down to perform the proper courtesies of a young lady.

Princess Consort Sheng was talking with the Lady of Liang and the Lady of Xie when she saw Shen Sangwan arrive. She stopped talking and gently waved to her.

“It has been four or five years since I last saw Awan. Come here quickly so I can have a good look at you.”

"Who is this young lady beside Awan?"

“My aunt, she is my good friend. Her surname is Cen and her given name is Yan. We met in Qinzhou, which is on the border of the Northern Wu. When the rebels forced the palace, it was her ingenious plan that allowed us to enter the city and rescue my father in the shortest time. Because the situation was chaotic at the time, she was temporarily placed in the palace.”

Princess Consort Sheng smiled and waved to Shuyan, "This child looks very simple and honest. I wonder which family in Qinzhou she is from?"

"In response to Your Highness, I am originally the daughter of the Cen family in Qinzhou City. In the twenty-seventh year of the Chuyuan era, the Northern Wu Kingdom attacked Qinzhou, and all my relatives perished in the war. Fortunately, Your Highness saved me, and thus I survived."

This was something Shen Sangwan had spent a whole day trying to do to help Shuyan regain her identity and have her own surname again.

It can only be said that fate brought them together. There happened to be a wealthy family named Cen in Qinzhou, and they had a daughter who was about the same age. If Qinzhou were not so far from Zhongdu, she would have suspected that Shuyan's current body was really connected with that wealthy family.

None of the Cen family members in Qinzhou survived, and even if someone were to investigate out of boredom, they would find no way to find out anything.

“I visited there when I was young. I remember that everyone in the city said that although the Cen family was one of the wealthiest families, they had many friends and were very charitable. They were well-known in Qinzhou City. Now, only you are left. It is truly sad to hear this.”

Princess Consort Sheng's words were full of regret, which left Shen Sangwan somewhat puzzled.

According to the information Xiaotong gave her, Princess Consort Sheng doesn't seem to be a sentimental person. She lived a carefree and unrestrained life when she was young, but after entering middle age, she started to worry about her children. As she gets older, she doesn't seem to care much about other things.

"Your surname is Cen, is it the same as the Right Chancellor's?"

Lady Liang glanced at Lady Xie before turning to stare at Shuyan.

Shen Sangwan picked up the conversation, smiling and agreeing, "Now that Lady Liang has said that, it seems we really do share the same surname."

"Since they share the same surname, their ancestors may have had some connection."

Shuyan didn't dare to react to these words, she just kept looking at Shen Sangwan.

"Lady Liang, you are mistaken. The Right Prime Minister's family is a prominent family in Zhongdu, while Qinzhou is located in a remote area. The two families should not have any connection. Please do not frighten her, Lady Liang."

The group exchanged a few words, but nothing came of it.

At this moment, the steward came to report that the feast in the front yard was definitely ready.

Princess Consort Sheng laughed it off, brushing aside the fact that Shu Yan was the only one with the surname.

"Your household recently acquired several pots of exquisite marigolds. Knowing that Awan has always loved chrysanthemums, I must take a good look at them. If you like them, please bring them back to your household."

Who exactly is spreading the rumor that I like chrysanthemums?

Just because Miss Cen has given me chrysanthemums several times doesn't mean I like chrysanthemums.

She was fine with small daisies, but if she remembered correctly, these marigolds were the larger kind, and she really couldn't appreciate them!

Shen Sangwan's face was a little stiff, but she nodded with a smile.

He helped Princess Sheng out of the main hall.

When Shen Sangwan entered the mansion, she only saw some noble ladies but not any young masters from prominent families.

But now that the banquet had been set up, she realized that today's flower viewing party was quite lively.

In her opinion, such banquets should only be for unmarried women.

Unexpectedly, everyone who came to the flower-viewing banquet today, whether married or unmarried, was present.

Men and women sat separately, separated by a screen.

Upon seeing this, Shen Sangwan was certain that Princess Consort Sheng was using the flower-viewing banquet as a pretext to arrange a marriage between people.

I just don't know who it's for.

Who was behind this, managing to get the old princess to act as matchmaker?

This piqued Shen Sangwan's curiosity.

After the host took his seat, the others followed suit.

"Today's banquet is just a small one, so please don't be shy. If there is anything inadequate in our hospitality, please forgive us."

After exchanging a few polite words as per protocol, and receiving responses from everyone, the banquet officially began.

Shen Sangwan really knew how to deal with the older generation. She used all the tricks she used to coax the Empress Dowager on the old princess, making her very happy.

Although Shuyan was Shen Sangwan's close friend, the higher-ups had not reserved a place for her, and she was somewhat reluctant to sit with a pair of shrewd people, so she chose to sit with the young ladies from various households.

Lin Wanyi (the Fourth Princess Consort) and Xie Qianyun (the Qi Prince's Consort) sat side by side, and after Shuyan took her seat, their eyes turned to look at her.

Wen Yuexi (the Empress's younger sister) had heard about Shuyan and Shen Sangwan's relationship before. She admired the Princess and therefore developed a strong interest in Shuyan as well.

Suddenly, she felt extremely uncomfortable under the scrutinizing gazes of those around her.

"Suddenly I don't want any identity or freedom. It feels like a pack of wolf cubs staring at their prey."

"Damn Shen Sangwan, she's determined to ruin me!"

"This young lady looks unfamiliar. May I ask which household she belongs to?"

The woman who was standing nearby was the first to ask a question.

"Miss Jiang, you don't even know this?"

"Just now I saw her following the Princess to the main hall. Who else could the Princess take out of the mansion but the beloved Shuyan?"

Lin Wanshuang (the younger sister of the Ming Princess) stared at Shuyan with a very strange look.

“I was originally the daughter of the Cen family in Qinzhou. Fortunately, I was rescued by the Princess. She took pity on me because I was all alone and took me back to Zhongdu. It is understandable that this young lady finds me unfamiliar.”

Shuyan did not respond to Lin Wanshuang's words, but instead politely smiled and explained to Jiang Sixuan (the younger sister of Consort Yi).

Upon hearing this, the ladies nearby all had different expressions, and they were all initially skeptical. Only Lin Wanshuang spoke out with absolute certainty.

Now, Shuyan's words clearly refuted what she had said, and everyone's attention shifted to Lin Wanshuang.