Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 197 Shen Mansion Banquet

The invitation in Xu Yuan's hand was given by Shen Yichuan. When looking closely, one can find that it is different from other invitations.

The Shen family is different from up-and-coming families like the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Grand Marshal's Mansion.

As a family of scholars and officials, the Shen family's banquets were attended by very few court officials, but mostly by royal relatives and literati wandering around the capital.

Because the Shen family’s banquet would only send invitations to ministers of the second rank and above in the court.

Xu Yuan specifically asked about Song Xiujing, so Shen Yichuan took the initiative and sent someone to go to the Taiwei Mansion to send an invitation to Song Xiujing.

The Shen family did not explain anything to the outside world.

But most people understood that Song Xiujing would be the third imperial consort in the future, and Shen Yichuan was on good terms with the third prince Beiyao. The reason he gave the invitation to Song Xiujing must be for the third prince Beiyao.

However, the third prince cannot be present today.

The prince came instead.

When Xu Yuan arrived at the gate of the Grand Tutor's Mansion holding the invitation, he just happened to see the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess getting off the carriage hand in hand.

Crown Princess Qi Shengmei had been ill before and had a miscarriage. She probably came out before she had fully recovered. There was no rosy glow on her face, and she looked extremely haggard.

After the carriage from the Prince's Mansion stopped, the carriage from the Qi Mansion also arrived.

When Qi Shengzhu got off the carriage and saw her elder sister, she immediately lifted her skirt and trotted over to greet her, saying, "Zhu'er greets the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."

Although he saluted to both of them, Qi Shengzhu's eyes were always on Qi Shengmei.

When he saw the appearance of his elder sister, his eyes were red with heartache.

Since marrying into the Prince's Mansion, Qi Shengmei has rarely smiled.

She was the daughter of a wealthy and powerful family and married the prince, but many people knew how she married the prince.

In these matters, people will not accuse men of acting without reason, but will only think that women are shameless.

But that thing... was not Qi Shengmei's original intention at all.

Especially now that I don’t have any children of my own.

Although no one told her about this matter, she knew in her heart that the prince was probably taking advantage of her again.

Qi Shengmei felt upset, but as the Crown Princess, she had to attend the Shen family's banquet.

Now that she saw her sister, she felt more relieved, with a smile on her face. She reached out to pull Qi Shengzhu and said, "We are family, so why should I be so polite, sister?"

On the side, Bei Yuan nodded and agreed: "Little sister, we are all family, there is no need to talk about these empty formalities."

After Bei Yuan finished speaking, he saw Qi Shengxin coming over, and then handed Qi Shengmei's hand to Qi Shengzhu and said, "My little sister, you came at the right time. There are many people here today, and the men and women are seated separately. I can't stay with your sister all the time, for fear of offending the other women. You should watch over your sister more and chat with her."

Qi Shengzhuba couldn't help but feel that the prince was not there, so when he heard this, he immediately said, "Yes."

Qi Shengxin also arrived. After the two of them greeted each other, they happened to see Shen Yichuan coming out of the mansion.

The banquet at the Shen Mansion was prepared by the second branch of the Shen Mansion, and they had their own welcoming guests.

Shen Yichuan is the eldest son of the eldest wife, so he doesn't need to come out in person.

Now that they were coming out of the palace to welcome him, many people thought that they were here to welcome the prince, so they took a step back and looked at the prince.

As we all know, the crown prince is the heir to the throne.

The Grand Tutor of the Shen family is the prince's teacher.

It’s just that Shen Yichuan never meddled in the affairs of the court, and he had never personally come out to greet anyone at a banquet in the past.

Today is somewhat rare.

Bei Yuan raised the corners of his lips slightly, with a hint of pride.

Shen Yichuan is extremely talented, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is the best in the capital. He also has the Poetry Pavilion under his control, and many people from the Poetry Pavilion come to the court to serve as officials every year.

Bei Yuan had always intended to befriend Shen Yichuan, hoping that after she gave birth to a legitimate son, Shen Yichuan would be his teacher and impart knowledge.

However, Shen Yichuan had always been very distant from him. Instead, because Concubine Xing was close to the Third Prince Bei Yao, he also became friends with the Third Prince.

But today, the third prince will not come, and Shen Yichuan will definitely go out of the house only to welcome him.

It can't be that they came out to welcome Qi Shengxin, right?

Qi Shengxin and Shen Yichuan have never gotten along.

Qi Shengxin also guessed the reason why Shen Yichuan left the house, and immediately stepped back and said, "Mr. Shen is here, please come in, Prince."

Upon hearing this, the prince said, "No need to be so distant, let's go in together."

After Bei Yuan finished speaking, he was about to talk to Shen Yichuan who was coming towards him, but he saw Shen Yichuan walking away from him with a smile on his face.

Not only did they not go out to greet him, but they didn't even offer any courtesy.

Bei Yuan's smile froze on his face.

The faces of the spectators around them were slightly stiff, and they couldn't help but ask: "Who on earth came to the Shen Mansion to make Master Shen go out to greet him personally?"

"Someone more important than the Crown Prince? Could it be His Majesty?"

"How could His Majesty leave the palace?"

"Who is that?"

The prince turned around and wanted to speak, but remembered that Shen Yichuan didn't even say a word, so he stopped talking and said to Qi Shengxin: "I see Ji Huai has a distinguished guest today, let's go in first."

Qi Shengxin nodded slightly. Unlike the prince, he looked back and had an idea in his mind the moment he saw Xu Yuan.

After Xu Yuan saw the prince enter the palace, he followed the crowd in.

After walking a few steps, I saw Shen Yichuan.

Xuyuan paused and realized something. Before she could speak, she heard someone calling her from the other end.

"Make a wish."

Shen Yichuan's voice is not loud, but it is particularly recognizable.

In addition, he is the legitimate son of the Shen family, and is born to be unparalleled in the world.

As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone looked at Xu Yuan.

The capital was not big, and Xuyuan's deeds had been widely circulated in the capital's vernacular books. However, it was cold in winter, and Xuyuan refused to see visitors, so most people had only heard of him but had never seen him. But now, when they heard the word "Xuyuan", they couldn't help but look over.

“Is this what making a wish is?”

"He is handsome, but so skinny. Can he hold a sword?"

"Don't underestimate him. His brother is the most capable general under General Xie. I heard that after the New Year, he will go south to suppress bandits! When he comes back, he will be a general with military merits."

"One is civil and the other is military. With two talents, I'm afraid there will be another Xu family in the future when the new nobles in the capital come."

"Xu? But that Xu?"

"If it's that Xu, can he still go to Wenhua Palace?"

Xu Yuan did not hear the discussions around her, but she keenly felt that the gazes around her had changed.

Xu Yuan paused and walked towards Shen Yichuan.

Shen Yichuan said, "I was afraid that since this was your first time here, you wouldn't be able to find the way, so I came out to pick you up."

Shen Yichuan said, covering his lips with his hand, and then said: "I specially invited Song Xiujing today, but men and women are not at the same table. I found an opportunity, I can't let you come for nothing."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately said, "Sorry for the trouble."

"Why be so polite? I was going to tell you earlier, but when I heard that Zhang Yue was here, I thought I couldn't disturb your reunion, so I didn't come to your house."

As Shen Yichuan spoke, he raised his hand and invited Xu Yuan to enter the mansion. Amid the surprised gazes of the crowd, he said, "My father is not here today, but I can introduce my second uncle to you. He is teaching in the academy."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan shook his head and said, "That's not necessary. I came here with a clear purpose, not to do anything else."

Xu Yuan said in a lower voice, "You also know my identity. You are from the Shen family. The farther away from me, the better."

Shen Yichuan's eyes suddenly changed, but after a moment, he said: "But it doesn't have to be so distant."