Chapter 241 Summer Banquet at Pingyang Marquis's Mansion
It was mid-summer in June.

The weather is getting hotter.

A few days ago, there was a rare drizzle, and it was also accompanied by a rare breeze that covered the sun.

It is rare to have a cool and refreshing time in this world.

Today is a holiday for all parties, and it will last for three days.

The emperor was unwilling to stay in the Golden Palace, so he went to the palace in the suburbs early to escape the summer heat.

Taking this opportunity, Hualan wrote letters to the ladies she had made friends with recently, as well as the families who had been related to the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion for generations, inviting them to come to her house for a banquet.

Naturally, no one refused this invitation.

It also adds to the rare refreshing weather in the hot summer.

Early in the morning, there was an endless stream of luxurious carriages arriving at the gate of Pingyang Marquis’ Mansion.

Today, not only Hua Lan is there to entertain the ladies and girls in the backyard, but Yang Wenyuan is also there. Although the uncles will not come in person, there are also young men from various families coming, and naturally Yang Wenyuan will be there to take charge.

Yang Wenyuan and Hua Lan entertained the guests in the hall in the front yard together, and then asked the maid to lead people to the banquet place.

At this time, Mother Li came to inform that the Sheng family was visiting.

When the Sheng family came, Yang Wenyuan and Hualan naturally had to be polite and go to the door to receive them.

At the gate of Pingyang Marquis Mansion.

The Sheng family arrived at the street in two horse-drawn carriages.

Wang Ruofu got off the carriage first, holding Rulan's hand.

Looking at the gorgeous carriages arriving one after another and the graceful ladies walking out of them, he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"I never saw such a scene when I was at my mother's house before!"

Rulan was indifferent to this scene.

Although it was a rare cool day today, it was not comfortable to stand outside and be blown by the hot wind. He immediately muttered:

"Mother, please don't always talk to me about your past. I wasn't even born then, so how can I relate to your feelings?"

After hearing Rulan's disappointing words, Wang Ruofu couldn't help but freeze her smile and gave her daughter a scolding look:
"Look at you. You got impatient when I just said a few words. If you marry into another family in the future, you don't know how you will have to endure the temper of your mother-in-law. You will have to endure it then, right?"

"Moreover……"

As she spoke, Wang Ruofu looked down at the smiling ladies around her with a smug look on her face, her mouth almost raised to the sky:

"Today's glory for your sister is also the glory for you and me, mother and daughter. What's wrong with saying something?"

I, my daughter, am the eldest lady of the Marquis's Mansion. Do you understand?
'Here it comes again, here it comes again!'

Rulan pursed her lips helplessly, and two cute dimples appeared on both sides of her cheeks.

Ever since elder sister Hualan married into the Yang family, mother Wang Ruofu always talks about her elder sister whenever she has interpersonal relationships.

Although Rulan knew that her sister's marriage was something to be proud of, she didn't know that she would talk about it all day long, right?
Rulan knew in her heart that she could not let her mother continue talking, otherwise the topic would immediately shift to her marriage.

Thinking of this, Ru Lan's lively black pupils looked around, and immediately saw her sister and brother-in-law who had just appeared at the door above. She immediately interrupted her mother's words and whispered:
"Mother, my sister and brother-in-law are here."

"Huh?...Oh."

Wang Ruofu lowered the corners of her mouth, took the time to look back at her children following her, and then walked leisurely towards the door.

"Mother!"

"mother in law!"

"..."

After some greetings.

The door was not the place for chatting and greeting, so everyone immediately prepared to go in together.

However, Hua Lan paused at this moment, as she saw the carriage of the Yongwang family approaching. She immediately stopped and whispered to Yang Wenyuan:
"Sir, Princess Yong has arrived. I will be here to receive her. You can take mother and the others in first."

Yang Wenyuan also glanced at Princess Yong, who was being carried out of the car by a female official holding the hem of her palace dress. He laughed inwardly, nodded slightly, and led Wang Ruofu and the others in first.

"It is a rare honor for our mansion to have the princess visit us today!" After Prince Yong's family was ready, Hua Lan took the opportunity to greet them.

"The wife of Marquis Pingyang is thoughtful!"

Princess Yong is now in her thirties, with a peaceful smile on her elegant face. She enters the palace chatting and laughing with Hualan.

She had no reason to be unhappy about what happened today.

Because she already knew about today's banquet at the Pingyang Marquis' Mansion, and the Yang family only invited them among the royal family, and did not invite Prince Yan's family!
What does it mean?
It doesn't mean that the Yang family has completely taken their side among the crown princes just because of today's banquet, but it at least shows that the Yang family doesn't like Prince Yan very much!

The Yang family had always supported the emperor's decision, but now they suddenly showed goodwill to their own family.

Could it be that some information was leaked from the officials?
When she thought of this, Princess Yong couldn't help but feel happy.

Of course, Prince Yong and his family could guess most of the reasons.

It was all because of what happened the month before last - Qiu Sanlang, a servant of Prince Yan, had a drink at the residence of Marquis Pingyang, and then in the restaurant he seduced the illegitimate son of Marquis Pingyang's wife's family to say that they were optimistic about Prince Yan in the competition for the crown prince, which also caused the Marquis Pingyang's father-in-law to be detained in the palace for three days by the government.

Although this matter is not a matter that will affect the entire body, after all, it is just a concubine's son, but it is still the Prince of Yan who wants to control the Yang family.

This matter makes people feel disgusted no matter what.

I thought the Yang family didn't respond to this because Yang Wenyuan was a prudent young man and didn't want to get involved in the fight for the crown prince, so he had to swallow this loss.

Who would have thought that he had already planned this and was just afraid that the museum selection would be hindered.

Now that the Imperial Academy has finished its selection, they are hosting a banquet and inviting young men from all families, except for the Prince of Yan's family...

"You are young and energetic after all!"

Passing through the gate of Pingyang Marquis' Mansion, the front yard, the outer ceremonial gate, the inner ceremonial gate, the back yard, and the Lotus Hall, Princess Yong was greeted by a group of ladies who looked at her with surprise and bowed respectfully.

After Hualan and Princess Yong entered the room and took their seats, the ladies who had been chatting behind them immediately started talking.

"What's going on? Why is Princess Yong here today? Have you heard any news?"

"That makes sense. After all, today is the first time that the young Lady of Pingyang has held a banquet in our house. Even if the Yang family is reluctant to get involved in the dispute between the two princes, they still have to hold their noses and invite her to the banquet."

"But if this master comes, then the Yan Wang family will probably come as well... Then it will be a fight between gods and mortals." The lady said this with some complaints in her tone. After all, there was a banquet for the Princess of Yong and the Princess of Yan, and the people present were not only silent, but also had many concerns, fearing that they would be accidentally involved in the tit-for-tat between the two Buddhas and become a raft for the fight.

"But I don't think so today..."

In the crowd, there was a lady who had some connection with the Yan Wang family, but not too deep. She looked around carefully and said cautiously:
"I heard, remember I just heard it from someone, that the invitation from Pingyang Marquis's Mansion today was not delivered to Yanwang Mansion."

"Ah?!" All the ladies present were dumbfounded.

They were all family members of officials and had first-rate political sensitivity. They immediately began to ponder the deeper meaning behind the Yang family's actions.

It can be said that the Yang family stood behind the official family very early on. Could it be that...

For a moment, the looks of the people present gradually became mysterious.

Hualan led Princess Yong to sit down.

However, not long after the conversation began, another servant came to report that an elder of distinguished status had arrived and needed to be greeted in person. Hua Lan had no choice but to apologize and rushed to the door to greet him.

Princess Pingning came with Qi Heng, Lady Yingguo came with Zhang Guifen, and Old Madam Yu came with Yu Yanran and Yu Yanhong.

The women were led by Hua Lan. The courtyard next to them, separated by a hanging flower gate, was where Yang Wenyuan was responsible for entertaining the gentlemen.

Yu Yanran was coming, and Gu Tingye, who had received the news in advance, naturally came as well.

The two mansions he chose as wedding houses were being connected and renovated by craftsmen, so he was still living in Ningyuan Marquis Mansion for the time being.

However, today he did not come with Xiao Qin and sister-in-law Shao, but invited Gu Tingwei to come along.

Seeing Gu Tingye looking at the opposite courtyard through the hanging flower gate with a happy face from time to time, Yang Wenyuan couldn't help but joked:

"You are also an ugly daughter-in-law who has finally become a mother-in-law. You have finally settled your marriage."

Ever since Gu Tingye revealed everything about himself and Yu Yanran at the dinner party held by Gu Yan before his departure that day, Xiao Qin had no choice but to hide the girl from the Kang family that she had taken a fancy to. Instead, she established her own persona and began to help Gu Tingye arrange a marriage.

The legitimate son of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion and the legitimate granddaughter of the old Grand Tutor Yu are planning a marriage, so the identities of the matchmakers hired by the two families naturally have to match accordingly.

The Gu family came from a noble family, and from outsiders' perspective, the two of them met at Madam Wu's polo match, so it was natural that Madam Wu was the matchmaker for the Gu family.

Mrs. Wu was naturally happy to accept the offer as she was about to arrange another marriage.

The Yu family had the support of Grand Tutor Yu, so they invited the matchmaker to be the eldest lady of the Yan family, who also came from a noble family of civil servants and was a "female royal family."

The fact that they were able to invite the eldest lady of the Yan family was enough to show how much Grand Tutor Yu and Madam Yu loved Yu Yanran, and it was also a guarantee for this marriage.

After all, the reputation of the women of the Yan family is high in the Great Zhou, and asking her eldest lady to act as a guarantor would restrict the couple from having any scandal.

Gu Tingye's marriage has been completed.

The next step is to go through the wedding process of the powerful and wealthy family smoothly, and then you can welcome the bride in the early spring of next year.

"Yes, yes!"

Qi Heng looked at Gu Tingye, who was in high spirits, and felt extremely envious and jealous.

Gu Tingye's marriage, which had no plan at all, was already arranged, but I still haven't found one.

Faced with this huge gap, Qi Heng rarely started to make a scene:

"My second uncle had such a happy event without saying anything, and he has not even had a drink to celebrate with us, his schoolmates.

Today is a good opportunity for us to drink together till dawn!"

Qi Heng: I must get you drunk today so that I can feel better!

"My fault. Things were really decided in a hurry!"

Gu Tingye quickly apologized, but ignored Qi Heng's words about drinking.

"Some other day, some other day I will drink with you to my heart's content!"

Nonsense, ever since the marriage was decided, Yu Yanran has not been allowed to go out most of the time and has to stay at home doing needlework. Today is a rare opportunity.

How can drinking and playing finger-guessing games with a bunch of stinky guys be as joyful as flirting with your fiancée and saying some sweet words to her?
This kind of banquet, attended by the young men of the family, is of the same nature as Madam Wu's polo match, and is meant to be a match between men and women.

As long as a man or a woman does not leave their entourage and maids behind and sneak into the woods together, it is normal for them to visit the garden and appreciate the flowers together openly.

Qi Heng wanted to persuade him, but was interrupted by Yang Wenyuan, who smiled and teased:

"Zhong Huai feels warm inside even without drinking. He just wants to talk to his sweetheart. How can he go there drunk?"

Seeing a rare embarrassment on Gu Tingye's carefree face, Qi Heng suddenly realized what was going on and stopped trying to persuade him.

But then an idea suddenly occurred to him.

"Gu Tingye can go and meet people, why can't I?"

However, the courtyards for men and women are separated, and Qi Heng cannot openly cross over to look for someone in front of people from both sides. It is also impossible for Minglan to take the initiative to leave the courtyard and wander around, so he can only wait for the opportunity.

The lunch table has not started yet.

The older ladies talked and chatted, while the younger people did not have so many past events to reminisce about, so they naturally wanted to have fun.

The venues for touhu and chuiwan have been specially cleared and are located in the bamboo forest and grass outside the courtyard.

Naturally, there was no distinction between men and women, and some people immediately invited each other to have fun.

Yang Wenyuan was already married, and felt that these were low-level interests compared to the pleasures of the boudoir. He had no interest in them and ate snacks and fruits at the table.

But when he turned around, he saw that Gu Tingye had not gone either. He was eating two pieces of iced watermelon in his hands. He couldn't help but wonder:

"You're not going?"

Gu Tingye continued to talk, looking very proud:
"I know my family very well. He just arrived and must have been taken by the sisters of the Sheng family to talk. How could he have time to play? It will be almost time to finish the banquet."

"Besides..."

Gu Tingye glanced at Yang Wenyuan proudly:
"I have an accomplice among them. When someone comes out, they will naturally let the maid inform me."

Yang Wenyuan: “…”

There is no need to guess, the person who can order the maids around in his own home must be Yang Ruijin.

Those who have the power of money are indeed arrogant!
"But are you sure you want to eat so many iced watermelons? Didn't I send you many of them one after another? Hasn't this satisfied your craving?"

As long as you are brave enough, Watermelon will take maternity leave.

Unlike other families who are timid, the Yang family is now the second family besides the royal family to achieve watermelon freedom.

Gu Tingye wiped his mouth and said calmly:
"You don't understand. These objects are naturally useful at times like these."

Yang Wenyuan looked puzzled:
"So...you sent all the things to the Yu family?"

Gu Tingye is still confident:
"Yes, otherwise where can I send it if I can't finish it? To 'honor' those people in my family?"

Well, that makes sense, and Yang Wenyuan had no words to refute.

If you don't send gifts to your mother-in-law's house and show your courtesy now, when will you show your courtesy?

Wait until after marriage?
That means moving things from my mother-in-law’s house!

at the same time.

When the banquet at Pingyang Marquis' Mansion was in full swing, the eye drops Yang Wenyuan applied added fuel to the fire as he wished.

Some people are as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

Inside the Prince of Yan's Palace.

Prince Yan and Princess Yan looked at each other with gloomy expressions.

"What does the Yang family mean by this? Are they going to take sides completely?"

They can't help but be anxious.

After all, the Yang family's obvious differential treatment clearly shows that they are supporting Prince Yong.

However, according to the principle of seniority, he, who was half a year younger than Prince Yong, was indeed not in the right.

Moreover, he had no offspring and only one son, which made him even less advantageous in the eyes of the government.

Only by coercing enough officials can the emperor, who is seeking stability in the court, seriously consider the candidate for the crown prince.

And now the Yang family, the emperor's staunch supporters, suddenly seem to be changing their flag.

Could it be that the government has already made up its mind?
(End of this chapter)