met free Chapter 349: The Prince's Invitation
Chapter 349: The Prince's Invitation
"You are well-informed." Shen Yanxi smiled. "Although the Fifth Princess received praise at the banquet, the news has not spread widely. Most people outside the palace are unaware of it."
"I heard Jingyue talk about it when I met her a few days ago. She happened to be home and heard Prince Chu and Princess Chu mention it when they came to the palace for the banquet."
When she first met Yang Manman, she remembered the fake bare-face makeup that came out of the palace in the previous life, but she didn't remember which princess's ranking it was that created it. And when Chu Jingyue mentioned it, she also remembered that the fake bare-face makeup seemed to have come from the fifth princess.
In her previous life, although she was the mistress of the Changning Marquis' Mansion, she didn't know much about the news in the palace.
After all, she only had the opportunity to enter the palace occasionally when there were large palace banquets. Although there were some officials and their wives who came and went, the information they could get was not much different from hers.
"Have you seen the fifth princess?" Jiang Suining asked.
"I have. I was there at the banquet. The poems written by the Fifth Princess are indeed exquisite, but..."
"Just what?"
Shen Yanxi's eyes flashed with suspicion, "Although those poems are exquisite, the mood and experience in the poems don't seem to be something that a princess who grew up in the deep palace can have."
Moreover, I heard that the Fifth Princess had been an unremarkable person in the harem before. Most of the time, she stayed in her own palace and did not like to go out or deal with people. But the Fifth Princess seen at the palace banquet this time was in high spirits, which was quite different from the rumors.
Hearing what Shen Yanxi said, Jiang Suining became more curious and asked about the poem written by the fifth princess. When he heard the line "Don't laugh at me sleeping drunk on the battlefield, how many men have ever returned from the battles in history", he couldn't help but frowned.
Bold and magnanimous, and ready to face death with equanimity, it is indeed hard to imagine that such verses were written by a princess who has lived in the deep palace for a long time.
Jiang Suining thought for a moment and said, "Could it be that because these poems aroused suspicion, the news at the palace banquet was not completely spread?"
The smile in Shen Yanxi's eyes became even brighter. "Sometimes I have to admire your sharpness. Indeed, the emperor felt that the Fifth Princess was suddenly so talented, and there was a high possibility that there was something hidden behind it, so he suppressed the matter and did not allow it to be spread too much."
After all, if those poems were not written by the Fifth Princess but by someone else, once they spread and the truth was discovered, it would inevitably affect the royal reputation if a princess plagiarized someone else's poems.
However, even if there are really pearls covered in dust, they should be a minority. Dozens of poems in a row are all wonderful secrets, but none of them have been passed down. If this is true, it is inevitably a bit strange.
Jiang Suining lowered his brows and recalled carefully.
She didn't know much about the fifth princess in her previous life, but the only thing she was sure of was that these poems were not spread widely in her previous life.
Perhaps there really is something fishy behind these poems, and it was discovered, so it has been suppressed.
As for the fifth princess...
While thinking, Jiang Suining remembered something else.
Later in her previous life, when she was drinking tea with several officials' wives, she seemed to have heard someone mention that the fifth princess's absurd words and bold behavior had angered the emperor, so she was punished with house arrest. As for what happened to her afterwards, there was no news.
Jiang Suining pulled himself out of his memories. Since Shen Yanxi came here directly after leaving the palace and had not had time to go home to rest, the two did not say anything else. At Jiang Suining's urging, Shen Yanxi returned to the Shen family.
Before returning home, Jiang Suining also went to the Changning Marquis Mansion.
She actually sent people to secretly watch the wine shop. Even if the night watchman had not shown up, the arson would not have caused too serious consequences.
But after all, the wine shop was burned down, but Zhanxing Tower was safe and sound. Qin's family might be suspicious, so Jiang Suining's trip was to dispel Qin's suspicion.
After Jiang Suining arrived at the Marquis of Changning's Mansion, Qin's tone was indeed tentative.
However, the wine shop was rented by Qin, and now it was burned down. Jiang Suining also suffered losses after all. In addition, she took the initiative to visit and acted as if everything was normal, so Qin soon stopped thinking about it.
Moreover, the Dong family agreed to compensate 100,000 taels of silver, which could be said to be a big pie falling from the sky. Qin was no longer so angry now. Of course, she did not intend to show mercy and let the Dong family go.
After sitting for about half an hour, Jiang Suining said goodbye and left. After she returned to the Jiang family, she received an invitation letter from a servant that had been sent to her not long ago.
She was invited to attend the banquet at the Third Prince's Mansion tomorrow, but the signature was not from the Third Prince, but from the Fourth Prince Xiao Yi.
"Miss, why is it the Fourth Prince who invited you to the banquet at the Third Prince's Mansion?" Xier looked at the invitation, very puzzled.
Jiang Suining lowered his eyebrows, thought for a moment, and then said, "You will know when you go there tomorrow."
The next day, Jiang Suining arrived at the Third Prince's Mansion in advance with a letter.
However, she did not rush in, but waited outside the mansion.
About half an incense stick of time later, Jiang Suining saw the fourth prince Xiao Yi getting out of the carriage, and beside him was a very pretty woman in palace dress.
Judging from her features, the woman could not be considered a complete beauty, but her temperament was very different from that of other noble ladies.
She is bright, cheerful and graceful, but not as forthright as Yang Manman, who deliberately gets along well with men.
She waved her hand to refuse the maid's help, and got off the carriage in three or two quick steps. There was no sense of affectation or awkwardness in her behavior.
Is that the fifth princess Xiao Yue?
Jiang Suining put aside his speculation for the moment, got off the carriage, and saluted Xiao Yi.
"The daughter of the people has met the fourth prince."
Seeing Jiang Suining, Xiao Yi smiled and raised his eyebrows. He glanced at the carriage behind Jiang Suining and said, "Miss Jiang, please get up. Since you are here, why don't you go in? Are you waiting for me here on purpose?"
Hearing Xiao Yi's address to Jiang Suining, Xiao Yue's curious gaze suddenly stopped on Jiang Suining and looked at him carefully.
Jiang Suining stood up and said, "I received an invitation from the Fourth Prince yesterday. I am flattered. However, the banquet is held in the Third Prince's residence after all, so I am a little nervous. I am worried that I will upset the Third Prince after I go in."
"Don't worry. Although the Third Prince did not invite you, he is my elder brother. It's no big deal for me to bring one more person in." Xiao Yi said indifferently.
Seeing Jiang Suining still standing there, Xiao Yi thought for a moment and smiled again.
"It seems that Miss Jiang is not only frightened, but also wants to ask this prince why."
Jiang Suining also smiled, "I really don't know why the Fourth Prince invited me."
"It's very simple." Xiao Yi looked past Jiang Suining and looked behind her. "This prince has always liked to see the beauty of talented men and beautiful women in love. Naturally, I can't bear to see Lord Shen go to the banquet alone."