After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 545 A Man Like a Golden Pheasant
"Male guests? Isn't this flower-viewing banquet only for women in the inner quarters?" Shen Yue'an was very confused. She had two older brothers, and neither of them came today.

Amber smiled and said, “That’s the principle, but each family has a few young masters who like to join in the fun. Some of them are still young and don’t cause much trouble. They can come and go as they please. They’re in another garden, and there are servants guarding the middle, so they won’t cross the line. I’m just reminding you in case something happens.”

Shen Yuean nodded and walked towards the waterside pavilion.

As soon as she stepped onto the covered bridge, she noticed several dark heads looming on the wall not far away. Remembering what Amber had said, her eyes lit up, and she took out a slingshot from her pocket, ran to the artificial hill, picked up a small stone, aimed, and fired.

"Ouch!" A wail came from the neighboring garden.

The young ladies who were chatting and laughing in the waterside pavilion suddenly realized that they had just been spied on. They were all furious, their faces turning red. One after another, they came out of the pavilion and cursed loudly through the wall.

The old lady and others came out to see what was happening when they heard the commotion.

Sun Yudie stepped forward angrily and curtsied, "Grandmother."

When the old lady saw that Sun Yudie's face was ashen, she called over the maid and asked her what had happened. She learned that a male guest had climbed over the wall to peep at the girl and had been hit by Shen Yue'an's slingshot. The expressions on their faces were quite interesting.

"Go see who's injured! And who else was climbing the wall with us!"

When the old lady got angry, even the Third Prince's wife and others didn't dare to speak up, and everyone secretly prayed that their own family members wouldn't get involved.

After a while, a maidservant hurried over and curtsied, saying, "Madam, it is the young master of the Wang family, the Minister of Revenue; the young master of the Liu family, the Minister of Rites; and the young master of the Zhao family, the Minister of War. The one who is injured is the young master Liu."

The Third Prince's wife swayed and almost lost her balance.

Princess Qingkang quickly helped her up and questioned her sternly, "Is he really Young Master Liu?"

The maid kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Highness, it is indeed Young Master Liu. Fortunately, the slingshot hit Young Master Liu's shoulder and did not injure any vital organs. The doctor has already gone to treat him."

It even escalated to the point of needing to call a doctor?
Everyone glanced at Shen Yue'an.

Princess Huai'an immediately spoke up in defense, "An'er, why are you using a slingshot to hit people?"

Shen Yue'an looked completely innocent. "Auntie, I don't know anyone. I wanted to talk to the sisters in the pavilion, but I didn't bring any gifts. I wanted to shoot a bird, but I couldn't get a good shot. I just happened to see something moving on the wall. I thought it was a beautiful pheasant. If I had known it was the older brother climbing over the wall, I definitely wouldn't have shot it."

"Pfft!" Sun Yudie and the other girls covered their mouths and chuckled, looking at Shen Yue'an with the most friendly gaze imaginable.

Princess Huai'an gently tapped Shen Yue'an's head, her tone full of doting indulgence, "Next time, make sure you're careful before you hit her. You can't mistake someone for a golden pheasant again."

"An'er understands!" Shen Yue'an admitted her mistake very obediently.

Apart from the angry Third Prince's wife and the resentful Princess Qingkang, everyone else felt quite relieved.

The doctor came and said that Young Master Liu's shoulder was fine and he needed to go home and rest for three to five days.

The old lady took the opportunity to have them all sent away.

The Third Prince's wife lost face so badly that she also made an excuse to leave.

Princess Qingkang then left.

With the troublesome person gone, the banquet proceeded smoothly afterward, and Shen Yue'an and Shen Yuezhang successfully integrated into the capital's social circle. After leaving the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, the Third Prince's Consort went to the Liu family immediately, and upon entering, she gave Madam Liu a thorough scolding.

"I had originally planned to propose marriage to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion and facilitate the marriage between the Sun and Liu families, but your good son actually climbed over the wall to peep at noble ladies. Does he not even care about his reputation? He has completely ruined my dignity. After today, not only will the marriage with the Rongguo Duke's Mansion not be possible, but he won't be able to marry any girl from a decent family!"

Madam Liu was so scolded that she couldn't even lift her head.

After the Third Prince's wife left, she was still scolded by her husband. When she learned the whole story, she did not blame her son. Instead, she took her anger out on the Shen family, thinking that if the Shen family hadn't meddled, her son wouldn't have been embarrassed.

Su Tai and her children were unaware of the Liu family's affairs.

The day after returning from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, Su Tai received a thank-you gift from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. Puzzled, she could only ask Liu Laosan for advice.

Liu Laosan glanced at the gift list and smiled. "With the Second Prince being demoted, the Third Prince must have some ideas. The Third Prince's wife wants to arrange a marriage between the Liu family and the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. If the Third Prince's wife makes the offer, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion will definitely not be able to refuse without a proper reason."

"With An'er's slingshot, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion would have a legitimate excuse to refuse, leaving no room for argument. Do you think the Rongguo Duke's Mansion wouldn't offer something in return?"

Su Tai understood and put those valuables into the storeroom with a clear conscience.

Thanks to the Rongguo Duke's flower-viewing banquet, Su Tai also got to know some officials' wives in the capital who were of similar rank to Shen Yi. Every now and then, she would go out with them to drink tea, watch plays, admire flowers, and worship Buddha, so she wasn't too bored.

While she was living a vibrant life, Madam Zheng and Madam Yang were already at their wits' end.

For a whole month, Tang Yu left and returned on time every day, doing everything himself, showing his determination and attitude to endure hardship, and working diligently and meticulously, truly handing over all his salary to Zheng Shi.

With receipts as proof, Zheng and Yang naturally had no doubt that there was something wrong with the money. Before they could even celebrate for two days...

Tang Yu asked Zheng for one and a half taels of silver, saying that it was a colleague's elderly mother's birthday celebration and a large banquet was being held, so he needed to give a gift.

Madam Zheng was heartbroken and clutched the money bag, unwilling to give it to anyone. "We have so many mouths to feed, and we depend on your meager salary to make a living. If you take the money to give as gifts, how are we supposed to survive?"

Tang Yu looked guilty. “Mother, it’s my fault for being incompetent, but I have no choice. If I don’t associate with my colleagues, I’m afraid I’ll be targeted and forced to leave the capital in less than two months. If you really can’t bear to spend the money, that’s fine. I’ll just tell them the truth.”

If I can't make a living in the capital, I can just go back to the village. I've sent a lot of money to my parents over the years, and I heard they've built quite a few houses. It wouldn't be too much to ask them to leave me one!

"I'll go back to serve my mother then."

"No!" Zheng and Yang said in unison.

Zheng's face turned ashen, while Yang was in a panic.

She came to the capital to elevate her family's status, not to have Tang Yu return and claim a share of the family fortune. Those houses should belong to the eldest branch of the family. Yes! Tang Yu cannot go back, absolutely not!
This time, Madam Yang's mind was clearer than ever before. She forced a smile and reassured him, "Uncle, you are incredibly talented and born to be an official. How can you come back to the countryside with us to farm? Besides, you wouldn't know how to farm there. I won't ruin your future over such a small matter, right, Mother?"

Madam Zheng trembled with anger, gritting her teeth as she said, "Can't it be any less?"

Tang Yu was in a difficult position.

Madam Yang was anxious when she saw this, and had to use her words to persuade him again.