Because there were too many people around, Li Zian could not find a chance to say a few words to Shen Tianshu until the banquet was about to begin.
Shen Zhonglei sent someone to invite Li Zian to the table, but he had to leave with a bit of depression.
After Li Zian left, the people around him naturally dispersed.
Shen Yunhui relaxed immediately and lay directly on the table.
Guo Xintong also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Tianshu stood up and said, "It's almost time for us to go back. After a long time, it's time for my mother to find someone."
Although the male guests and female guests are separated, the time for lunch is the same.
When Shen Tianshu and the others arrived at Changxuan, the others had already taken their seats, and their eyes immediately focused on them.
"Xintong, here." Mrs. Guo quickly waved her daughter to her side, and then asked in a very low voice, "Have you always been with Miss Shen?"
Seeing Guo Xintong nod, she asked again: "Then have you met the prince?"
Guo Xintong found that there were many people around her. Although they pretended not to care, they were actually waiting for her to speak, so she whispered: "Let's eat first, and we'll talk later."
Mrs. Guo also realized that it was not appropriate for her to ask this question at this time, so she stopped talking.
Shen Tianshu and Shen Yunhui's seats were arranged next to Mrs. Xu. Without waiting for Mrs. Xu to speak, they very obediently stepped forward and sat down.
In front of everyone, Mrs. Xu couldn't say anything. Instead, she had to act like a loving mother and said: "I heard that some new flowers and trees were specially arranged in Mingshui Garden this year. Is it different from before?"
Shen Tianshu responded very calmly: "Yes, the flowers in several courtyards are blooming very well. Yunhui and I looked at each courtyard and felt that camellias and crabapples were blooming the best. We had lunch later , let’s accompany my mother to enjoy the flowers.”
Someone next to me immediately said: "Miss Shen is really filial!"
Mrs. Xu kept a smile on her face, but secretly scolded Shen Tianshu for pretending to be a good person. When she said this, it seemed that she was filial for coming late.
Not only could she not expose Shen Tianshu in public, but she also had to help her smooth things over, otherwise it would still be the Shen family that would be embarrassed both inside and outside.
And since Shen Tianshu walked in, those who hoped that their daughter would reach a higher level couldn't help but look at her secretly.
I have to say that the title of the most beautiful woman in Yongzhou Prefecture is truly deserved.
Every aspect of Shen Tianshu's facial features was perfectly beautiful. Coupled with her soft facial contours and fair and delicate skin, her whole body seemed to be glowing when she was sitting there.
Occasionally, Shen Yunhui next to her said something, causing the corners of her lips to turn up and her face to show slightly, which was even more eye-catching like an epiphyllum in full bloom.
With such a beautiful woman in front of him, who else could Prince Wang hold in his eyes?
That's fine with the officials and wives present. After all, the daughter of the family does not have to worry about getting married. Instead of becoming a concubine in the palace, it would be better to find a well-matched family and marry into it and become the wife of the wife.
But those people who followed through because of their connections, now saw Shen Tianshu, and immediately felt hopeless, and gave up the idea of climbing up the branches, but the gifts they sent out were definitely in vain.
Only Mrs. Zhu was still unwilling to give in. Shen Tianshu was indeed good-looking, but she felt that her daughter was not too different.
What's more, men have different preferences. Some people like to be dignified and grand, while others like to be gentle and carefree.
She didn't take a few bites of the meal, she just made small calculations in her mind.
After lunch, Mrs. Zhu immediately took her daughter out of the open mansion, found Madam Zhang whom she had hired in Mingshui Garden, and asked Li Zian where she would rest.
Mrs. Zhang works as a sweeper in Mingshui Garden and is very familiar with many arrangements in the garden.
She looked around and saw no one around, so she whispered: "We reorganized the Magnolia Hall last night, and the prince must have rested there. There is a large rockery in the backyard of the Magnolia Hall, and there is a path in it that can be accessed directly.
The waterside pavilion at the back.”
Mrs. Zhu skillfully handed Mrs. Zhang a piece of silver.
Madam Zhang quickly stuffed the money into her sleeve pocket and warned her uneasily: "Mrs. Zhu, I took a huge risk to reveal this news to you. If anyone finds out, I will be finished. You must not
Give me away."
Mrs. Zhu agreed: "Don't worry, I can't handle this clearly!"
The mother and daughter came to the rockery next to the waterside pavilion, and after searching for a long time, they finally found the path Mrs. Zhang mentioned.
The two of them ducked slightly into the rockery, not knowing that all their actions had already fallen into the eyes of the palace guards.
Mingshui Garden is different from ordinary private houses. The garden was originally built for enjoyment, so there is no main house running through the middle line, and all the courtyards are not neat and independent, but are mostly connected by secluded paths.
Go straight through the rockery next to the waterside pavilion, and you will find the backyard of Yulan Hall.
Mrs. Zhu was overjoyed and said repeatedly: "Ms. Zhang is indeed not lying. The money spent is indeed worth it."
"How much did Mrs. Zhu spend?"
"Not much, only ten taels..." Mrs. Zhu answered subconsciously, and then she was so frightened that she looked up in the direction of the sound, and saw Hanqiao standing not far away.
"Who is that lady Zhang?" Hanqiao asked again.
"No, no one... Miss Hanqiao may have heard wrongly, I didn't say anything about Madam Zhang!"
Mrs. Zhu never expected that Mr. Xu would arrange someone here, and she was so panicked that it was difficult to speak.
Han Qiao's eyes moved to Zhu Yueying, looked up and down, and said mockingly: "Mrs. Zhu, this is the first daughter of the family to grow up. It's hard to give up on her natural beauty!"
Zhu Yueying's face turned red with shame and she hid behind Mrs. Zhu, unable to raise her head.
Mrs. Zhu also looked a little confused, but she didn't dare to get angry with Hanqiao, so she could only say: "What are you talking about, Miss Hanqiao? We, mother and daughter, just had lunch and were wandering in the garden."
"Mrs. Zhu, you know better than me what you want to do." Hanqiao saw that she was pretending to be stupid, so he didn't bother to talk to her anymore, and said directly, "Now that I have stopped you, I can still save face. If
If you go further in, you will be blocked by the palace guards, so you can decide what to do on your own!"
Mrs. Zhu had no choice but to take her daughter back into the rockery and return the way she came.
Because Li Zian was depressed, he drank two more drinks during lunch. At this time, he was resting on the second floor of Yulan Hall. Hearing noises outside, he asked irritably: "Who is making noise outside!"
A secret guard came in through the window and said: "Reporting to the Crown Prince, someone wanted to take the opportunity to get close to the Crown Prince, but was stopped by the servants arranged by the Shen Mansion."
Li Zixin said with peace of mind that the Shen Mansion was doing things well, but after thinking about it, he immediately felt that this was a good opportunity.
He waved the secret guard to his side and whispered a few instructions.