The seductive princess is no longer being pursued; the aloof prime minister is facing a crematorium.

Chapter 17 Guess who went to the Yichun Banquet?

The crowd was like boiling water, bubbling and surging.

Princess Zhaoming is universally disliked and hated, and the entire nation resents her. Yet, the Si family of Jiangnan has such a close relationship with her!?
For a time, even everyone's impression of Jiang Jinshuang became something to be kept secret.
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Xia Mansion.

The clear stream flows like waves, and fallen petals are scattered everywhere.

The flower-viewing banquet was held in the most lush garden of the Xia residence.

Pavilions by the stream, towers and pavilions amidst mountains and rocks.

Eight-immortal tables with auspicious cloud patterns made of rosewood are arranged in a row, with gold and jade glass cups placed at the side. Mulberry wine, autumn dew wine, and thousand-year brew are all kinds of wines and dishes gathered on the table, a feast for the eyes.

The Xia family has made ample preparations for today's flower-viewing banquet.

The flower-viewing banquet wasn't just for male guests; Xia Yurong also invited many female relatives and daughters to admire the spring flowers and make sachets. The large garden was bustling with people.

Most of the female guests surrounded Xia Yurong, while the male guests sat at the octagonal table, chatting and drinking with each other, entertained by Xia Wenbin.

Xia Yurong was a famous beauty in the capital. After Xia Wenbin took her back to the Xia family, Xia Yurong, as the only and youngest daughter of the Xia family, was treated as a treasure by Xia Wenbin and was always obedient to him.

In order to help Xia Yurong integrate into the circle of noble ladies in the capital, Xia Wenbin held banquets many times, inviting women from the capital to his mansion.

Xia Yurong was beautiful and had a sweet tongue. Her father was a third-rank official in the imperial court, so she quickly became popular among the noble ladies in the capital.

At this moment, Xia Yurong was sitting in the pavilion with a group of women making sachets.

"Oh my, Sister Yu Rong's hands are so skillful!"

A woman in green picked up Xia Yurong's purse and said with envy, "This purse is so beautifully embroidered. Look at these mandarin ducks, they look like they're about to blink!"

Upon hearing this, all the women put down their sachets and rushed to see Xia Yurong.

"So beautiful! Rong'er's needlework is always the best! If I had such skillful hands, what lover or sweetheart would be a piece of cake..."

These words drew bursts of laughter from the women.

The woman in green was Xia Yurong's close friend. Hearing someone say that, she asked with a teasing look, "Will our Rong'er's sweetheart be arriving for the banquet soon?"

Hearing the woman in green say this, Xia Yurong blushed immediately and lowered her head even further: "Qingshan, please don't make fun of me..."

Qing Shan covered her mouth and laughed, and some of the women around her also laughed and said, "What's so funny about this? All the women in the capital know that the Grand Secretary and Yu Rong have the best relationship!"

"Exactly! Normally, let alone delivering invitations, we wouldn't even be able to get through the gates of Wenshan Pavilion!"

"I heard that Sister Yu Rong knew you before the Grand Secretary even entered officialdom!"

"Oh dear, isn't this just like the stories in the novels, where a virtuous wife helps me achieve my lofty ambitions..."

"Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense," Xia Yurong said reproachfully, pursing her lips. "If... if Brother Pei hears this, he'll start criticizing me again..."

Upon hearing this, Qing Shan's smile deepened: "Oh, 'Brother Pei'...who is that?"

"Hahaha, Sister Yu Rong and the Grand Secretary have such a good relationship. I suppose it won't be long before we can enjoy your wedding banquet together?"

"You can tell me! Humph, if it weren't for Princess Zhaoming's abuse of power back then, Yu Rong might have already exchanged feelings with the Grand Secretary!"

The atmosphere among the women turned cold when the topic of "Princess Zhaoming" came up.

Qing Shan, feeling indignant on Xia Yurong's behalf, said with a grim expression, "Why bring her up on such a fine day? It's such bad luck!"

"That's right! That Princess Zhaoming doesn't appreciate kindness. When Yu Rong first returned to the capital, she was trying to mend her relationship with her, but Princess Zhaoming just kicked her out!"

Qing Shan snorted coldly: "Such an ungrateful and treacherous person will be banished from the capital by the Emperor sooner or later!"

Seeing that Xia Yurong looked somewhat sad, Qingshan quickly laughed and said, "Haha, I heard that Princess Zhaoming is going to hold some kind of Yichun Banquet at her residence today."

"Hmph, knowing full well that they're disliked, they still insist on humiliating themselves. It's laughable!" "That's right! With Sister Yu Rong's flower-viewing banquet at her residence, who would bother attending that Yichun Banquet!"

The atmosphere became lively again.

As the women talked, the topic returned to the Grand Secretary.

"Sister Yu Rong, when will the Grand Secretary arrive for the banquet?"

"Yes, yes! We all want to see the Prime Minister's demeanor!"

Xia Yurong smiled, lowered her head shyly, and whispered, "They should...they should be here soon..."

Meanwhile, at the banquet...

Xia Wenbin smiled and toasted with the officials present, chatting and composing poems in a very refined manner!
During the meal, everyone was half-drunk and began to speak without any manners.

"Lord Xia, it's all thanks to your invitation! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know what to do!"

"Yes! We really don't want to attend Princess Zhaoming's banquet!"

"Hmph! She still thinks she's the pampered princess she once was. Now even His Majesty refuses to see her. Who knows how low she'll fall in status in the future!"

"Exactly! Attending a banquet hosted by such people really diminishes one's status!"

"Fortunately, Lord Xia invited me. This cup of wine is a toast to you!"

Xia Wenbin was flattered, and he couldn't hide the smile on his face. He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

An official at the table asked with a smile, "Lord Xia, I heard that your daughter's invitation also includes the Grand Secretary?"

When this matter was mentioned, Xia Wenbin straightened his back a little more.

He raised his chin and nodded in feigned reproach: "Yes, I didn't want to send a letter to the Grand Secretary, for fear of disturbing his peace."

"But my Rong'er said that she was on good terms with the Grand Secretary and that she was just at the banquet to have a drink, and that there was nothing wrong with it."

A chorus of applause rose from the crowd.

"Our Grand Secretary is a prodigy, a young talent! He and your daughter are a perfect match!"

As he spoke, an official raised his wine glass obsequiously, his face full of flattery, and said, "Then this humble official would like to wish your daughter and the Grand Secretary a harmonious relationship and that good things will soon follow!"

Xia Wenbin laughed heartily twice and drank it down without any hesitation!
The guests at the banquet were all chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves immensely.

Just then, a servant rushed into the banquet hall in a panic and knelt down in front of Xia Wenbin with a thud!

"Reporting to Your Excellency, at the Yichun Banquet... at the Yichun Banquet..."

Upon hearing the words "Yichun Banquet," Xia Wenbin scoffed dismissively, "What's with all this panic? What's wrong with the Yichun Banquet?"

"Someone attended the Princess's Spring Banquet!"

I thought it was something serious.

Xia Wenbin sneered: "The guests at the Yichun Banquet are all currently at my residence. What kind of distinguished guests could be going down to attend the Yichun Banquet now?"

"Exactly! Maybe Princess Zhaoming even invited them to make a show of things!" an official at the banquet mocked.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

The servant kept his head down, stammered, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

"Your Excellency, I have just heard that the Grand Secretary... has attended the Yichun Banquet..."

(End of this chapter)