The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 13 Peach Blossom Grove (2/2)
Princess of Changle’s birthday banquet was of a high standard, and the invitations were only sent to the daughters and sons of the first wife of noble families. Therefore, not many people attended the banquet.
The Taizi Mansion was heavily guarded. Except for the opening of the peach blossom grove in the south and the waterside pavilion next to it, the passages inside were guarded.
The banquet was set in the garden beside the peach blossom grove. When Qin Yan arrived, several young ladies were already seated.
Princess of Changle Feng Yunchao was seated on the main seat. After Qin Yan and Feng Yuyao greeted Princess of Changle Feng Yunchao, the young ladies also stood up to salute Qin Yan and Feng Yuyao. Qin Yan, together with Feng Yuyao, was seated side by side and below Feng Yunchao’s position.
In the position opposite them was a dignified and beautiful woman, who looked a few years older than Qin Yan, and Princess of Changle Feng Yunchao was chatting happily with her. Qin Yan admired that that person’s words and deeds were the models of a noble girl from a noble family, and it was no wonder that Uncle Huai said she was too casual. Feng Yuyao saw Qin Yan looking at An Yanxi on the opposite side with admiration. She whispered mysteriously in Qin Yan’s ear, “You have good vision. That is An Yanxi, the first eldest daughter of An Shifeng, a Grand Scholar and Taizi’s Taifu.”
“Did you see Feng Yunchao chatting happily with her? I heard that the eldest young lady of the An family is a potential crown princess, and she is a childhood sweetheart of Taizi. However, rumors have been circulating for many years, and there’s still no movement from Taizi.”
At this moment, An Yanxi returned their gaze and nodded slightly toward them. She was really generous and fitting.
Qin Yan and the others had empty seats in front of them, Feng Yuyao motioned over, “The second person over there is Wang Jingyi, the eldest young lady of the Left Prime Minister Mansion, who has already betrothed and will get married next year. She is betrothed to He Xiao, the eldest son of the Minister of the Ministry of War, but I heard that he is a playboy, and he has beauties all over the capital. This Miss Wang is also considered to marry a man with lower status, but she has never made any noise about it, so there is no gossip to talk about.”
“Below her is Wang Jingyan, the second daughter of the Left Prime Minister. This person’s experience is legendary. When she was a child, she went to Yangzhou with her mother and met a thief on the road. She was rescued by a wealthy businessman in Yangzhou. Afterward, she was raised in the Yu family and was brought back in recent years. This person is the lucky star of the Left Prime Minister, and I heard that the Left Prime Minister attaches great importance to her very much. She usually works with Miss An to set up tents to serve porridge. I am afraid that Miss An is trying to boost herself to become the crown princess. I don’t know what she wants to do. However, both of them have an excellent reputation outside.”
“Further down is An Yanxi’s younger sister, An Suyue, but they are not of the same mother. She is the daughter of the second wife. I heard that the rear courtyard of the Grand Scholar Mansion is not peaceful. The two sisters have never been at peace, and I have never seen them talking outside.”
Feng Yuyao’s mouth was dry after she talked too much, and she took a sip of the tea at hand. Before she had time to put down the teacup, the voice of the palace attendant came from outside the banquet, “Shizi Xie of Marquis of Yongding Mansion and his fiancée arrived. Shizi Xie of Marquis of Yongding Mansion sent a white jade landscape ornament, and the fiancée of Shizi Xie of Marquis of Yongding Mansion, Miss A Yan, sent a painting.”
“Shizi Xie also gave the jade ornament, you two still thought the same thing.” Feng Yuyao’s words are full of ridicule.
Qin Yan smiled without saying a word. She had a lot of jade ornaments in her warehouse, and Mister Ji picked a few as gifts for her to choose the right one.
Xie Changyuan and A Yan sat opposite Qin Yan, but Qin Yan was helpless as they were opposite again.
Xie Changyuan also saw Qin Yan on the opposite side, and he looked away uncomfortably.
A Yan had been observing Xie Changyuan’s reaction. She looked at the opposite side. She had seen the Princess of Jingyi Feng Yuyao from a distance before. Next to that princess should be Qin Yan, Brother Changyuan’s ex-fiancée.
It turned out that Qin Yan was so beautiful, would Brother Changyuan regret it?
A Yan turned around and saw Xie Changyuan raise his head and drank a cup of wine, his face seemed to be gloomy, which made A Yan feel a little uneasy.
——
The banquet was fairly quiet, and nothing happened.
The second daughter, Jingyan, who had just been brought back by the Left Prime Minister, had found a source of amusement. It seemed that some people were stealing the princess’ limelight, and the method was from a small family on the street.
Interestingly, her eldest sister, Wang Jingyi, next to her just drank quietly, and watched singing and dancing, without interfering. She pretended that this sister did not exist the whole time, and it seemed that this pair of sisters were not in harmony behind the closed door.
Wang Jingyan spoke suddenly, “Your Highness Princess of Changle, I’m good at painting, and also considered a painting maniac. Today I heard that Shizi Xie’s fiancée gave Princess a painting. I’m really curious and want to have a look at the masterpiece. I ask Your Highness Princess of Changle to open the painting and have a look.” After speaking, she looked at Qin Yan.
Qin Yan caught Wang Jingyan’s eyes, what was that one going to do?
The sisters of the Wang family of the Left Prime Minister Mansion were also the cousins of the Princess of Changle Feng Yunchao and Taizi. Feng Yunchao did not refuse and ordered the palace servant to fetch the painting that A Yan had just brought, brought out an easel, placed it at the end of the banquet, hung the painting, untied the ropes that bound the painting, and presented a mountain view in the in front of everyone.
Everyone was amazed at the composition and artistic conception of this painting, and it could be seen that the person who painted it was exceptionally good at painting.
Feng Yunchao was also good at painting, so she asked the palace servant to take the painting and send it to her for a closer look.
“Is it Meishan in the painting?” Feng Yunchao asked A Yan in surprise.
A Yan got up, curtseyed, and said, “Back to the Princess, it’s indeed Meishan in the painting.”
Feng Yunchao nodded. She once saw a painting of misty rain in Meishan in Brother Taizi’s study. Brother Taizi was taught by Master Yishan, and once painted it when he was in Meishan. The scenery of the two paintings was very similar.
“Why do you have this painting?” Feng Yunchao asked A Yan again.
“I studied painting with Master Yishan in Meishan for some time.” A Yan replied calmly.
“Are you a disciple of Master Yishan?” Feng Yunchao asked once again.
“I’m not talented, I’m afraid that the reputation of my teacher will be tarnished.” Although Master Yishan did not really teach her to paint, when she was in Meishan, she pestered Master Yishan to learn how to paint, and Master threw a bunch of rough sketches for her to learn. This should be regarded as being under the tutelage of Master Yishan, she did not lie.
Everyone seated was shocked. Master Yishan was the Emperor’s teacher. Today, the Emperor of Hui also studied under Master Yishan, including the current Taizi.
When it came to Meishan, Xie Changyuan looked at A Yan. Without her, he would have frozen to death in a snowdrift when he was in Meishan. Now, as long as A Yan was willing, he could give her a stable home and protect her for the rest of her life.
Meishan? Qin Yan thought to herself, when did that Old Man Yishan accept another apprentice?
But it was possible since they hadn’t seen each other for a few years. Since she was the old man’s disciple, she should also take care of this girl. At this time, Qin Yan didn’t mind that this was the current fiancée of his ex-fiancé.
At this time, there seemed to be some commotion in the crowd. Qin Yan followed the eyes of everyone and looked outside. A group of people led by Taizi Feng Zhan appeared in the front courtyard. Among them, there were ministers of civil and military generals. Feng Zhan lowered his head and gave instructions to the people around him, then the group of people majestically entered the mansion.
Song Zhi, who was beside Taizi, walked over quickly, holding a guqin case in his hand.
“Your Highness Princess of Changle, this is the birthday gift from Taizi to the princess.”
“Please thanked Brother Taizi on my behalf.” Feng Yunchao was full of joy.
After the palace servant beside the princess took the guqin case, Song Zhi walked away quickly.
Feng Yunchao ordered the palace servant to open the guqin case and was immediately shocked, and everyone on the scene were also shocked. It was Xihe Guqin, an ancient guqin that had only been seen in ancient books. It was a priceless treasure. The world did not know its trace, and it was unexpectedly found by His Highness Taizi.
It seemed that this Taizi really treats his sister very well.
Is being thrown a bunch of paintings called studying?
Hahaha. So Xie Changyuan is the one that Qin Yan rescued and subsequently fell into a cold pond as a result? Wait until Shen Ci finds out that here’s the guy he wants to find and dunk. And of course the other girl took the credit. He’s going to feel like an idiot on so many levels.