The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 144: The Royal Banquet

Chapter 144: The Royal Banquet

The Lord of Jin was not a magnanimous man.

Although he couldn’t accuse the Yan family, he resorted to underhanded tactics, making Yan Ling’s take the blame.

Not only was he dismissed from his position, but he also faced imprisonment.

Shen Xiang was filled with fear and sought help from Yan Ling, bringing him along to the Anyang Marquis Mansion.

However, this time, they were not even allowed to enter the gates.

In the midst of the snowstorm, Shen Xiang stood at the entrance of the Mansion, angrily cursing.

At one moment, she criticized the heartlessness of the Shen family, disregarding sisterly bonds.

At another moment, she accused Nanli of lacking loyalty, refusing to lend a helping hand.

No matter how she cursed, the doors remained shut.

After waiting for a while, Shen Xiang couldn’t bear the cold any longer and returned to the carriage.

She saw her son dozing off and couldn’t help but pat him, saying, "Your father is currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice. If you can’t come up with a solution, how can you sleep so soundly?"

Yan Ling woke up, still in a daze.

Impatiently, he muttered, "What can I do? I’ve tried reaching out to everyone, but no one pays us any attention! It’s all because of you, seeking those inferior talismans from the Sanqing Temple. It caused the Lord of Jin to blame us for everything!"

He was truly unlucky to have such parents.

Shen Xiang’s blood surged, almost causing her to spit out blood. "It’s clearly your fault for trying to curry favor with the Lord of Jin and causing such a calamity! Why am I suffering so much? I married an unreliable husband and raised an unreliable son."

Yan Ling rubbed his ear, telling Shen Xiang to stop crying.

He said, "How am I unreliable? In the upcoming Spring Examination, I will surely excel and bring you honor!"

Shen Xiang managed to stop crying.

Yes, there was still hope for her son to achieve greatness.

After all, those who passed the county examination had the opportunity to participate in the Spring Examination.

However, during the county examination, Chu Huan ranked at the top while her son ranked last.

She immediately scolded, "Then hurry home and study. Why waste time here?"

"Didn’t you ask me to come out?"

Yan Ling rolled his eyes.

He was unusually calm and confident.

"Don’t worry, I will definitely achieve high marks next year and bring you glory."

Shen Xiang didn’t believe him. "As long as you pass, I will be grateful to the gods and buddhas. You still want to be the top scholar? Do you know how difficult it is to be in the top three?"

"Just wait and see," Yan Ling said confidently.

He wouldn’t have dared to say such words before, but now, he had no fear at all.

After speaking, he glanced at the jade pendant on his waist, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

As the New Year approached, the busiest people in the Marsquis Mansion were Chu Shuo and Lady Qian.

Fortunately, Chu Hanlin didn’t mind and allowed Lady Qian to receive various shopkeepers, preventing Chu Shuo from being overwhelmed.

Despite this, Chu Shuo still had people prepare clothes and jewelry for the family to wear during the New Year, hoping for good luck.

In previous years, Chu Hanlin and Shen would celebrate the New Year in the mansion.

However, this year was different.

As their daughter was the future Ninth Princess and had gained the favor of Emperor Muwu, they were invited to participate in the palace banquet.

This year, there was a separate banquet for men and women.

The men’s banquet naturally consisted of officials and young masters from various families. As for the women’s banquet, it was held in the Yuzhen Hall and hosted by Lady Yang.

Shen Shi arrived at the Yuzhen Palace with Nanli.

Many people had already gathered, including the wives of officials from various families, and even several princesses and county princesses.

Nanli still remembered her first time attending the palace banquet.

These people had looked down on her and didn’t even spare her a glance.

However, in just half a year, their attitudes had changed.

They surrounded her and Shen Shi, addressing them as "Miss Chu" one after another.

Nanli remained expressionless and went straight to her seat, ignoring their chatter.

But there was always someone shameless enough.

Lu Yanyan had someone bring a chair and squeezed her way over, saying, "Little Sister Nanli, it’s been a while since we last met."

Nanli raised an eyebrow and said, "It hasn’t been that long."

Ever since Lu Yanyan decided that they were good sisters, she had been calling Nanli "little sister."

"It’s been so long. I’ve missed you every day, as if we haven’t seen each other in years," Lu Yanyan said.

Nanli shivered.

After the free clinic was established, Nanli would occasionally help out.

When Lu Yanyan found out, she also went to lend a hand.

The two of them had seen each other just a few days ago.

She shifted her body and said, "You don’t have to say such cheesy things to me."

Lu Yanyan burst into laughter, but soon whispered, "I don’t know what’s wrong with Consort Yang. She actually let you and your mother sit at the head table. Isn’t she openly making enemies?"

Even if Nanli was betrothed to the Ninth Prince, she cannot be called the Ninth Princess until she was married and resides in the palace.

The presence of the noble ladies from the Duke’s Mansion, overshadowed by the Marquis’s Mansion, had caused them to lose face.

As a result, several noble ladies and princesses were wearing forced smiles, their expressions betraying their unease.

If Empress Xie were in charge of the harem, such a loss of dignity would never occur.

Nanli glanced at her and asked, "So, tell me, how can our Anyang Marquis Masion remedy this situation?"

Lu Yanyan replied, "It’s simple. Choose a few individuals who please you and present them with talismans you have drawn."

Nanli immediately refused, saying, "What a ridiculous idea. Even a single talisman I draw would cost fifty taels of silver, even if it were just a protective charm."

Lu Yanyan’s lips twitched, "You and Chu Shuo are definitely cut from the same cloth, both obsessed with money."

Nanli said, "Your luck has been low lately. Do you want to buy a talisman?"

Lu Yanyan felt even more hurt.

She had been lingering around Nanli so often, yet she still couldn’t bring herself to give her a talisman.

But to receive a talisman personally drawn by Nanli was already quite good.

With this thought, Lu Yanyan regained her vitality.

After all, the heir of the Lord of Jin had never managed to obtain one of Nanli’s talismans.

Before Lu Yanyan could respond, a eunuch announced, "The Noble Consort has arrived!"

Everyone knelt and paid their respects.

Technically, Nanli didn’t need to kneel, but she didn’t want to stand out and attract

jealousy, so she knelt as well.

However, Consort Yang insisted on making her an enemy.

As she passed by Nanli, she instructed a palace maid to help her up.

"Miss Chu is this palace’s benefactor. How can I accept such a gesture? Please rise," Yang said.

She was dressed in a crimson embroidered palace gown, with a phoenix spreading its wings inlaid with jade and several round pearls hanging from it, shining brightly and showcasing her elegance.

Nanli felt even more self-conscious under the scrutiny, but she stood up and didn’t reject Yang’s kindness.

"Thank you, Noble Consort," she said.

Yang nodded slightly, then took a seat with the support of her belly, instructing everyone else to rise as well.

She was nearly six months pregnant, and her appearance was quite good.

Among the harem, she was the most prominent figure.

Once she sat down, she exuded the aura of a ruler of the harem.

After everyone was seated, Yang spoke, "The Emperor bestowed some Western grape wine upon me earlier, but due to my current condition, I am unable to partake. So, I thought I would let everyone have a taste."

The faces of the crowd brightened at her words.

After all, this Western grape wine was something that money couldn’t buy.

They never expected to have the opportunity to taste it in the Yuzhen Hall today.

Nanli, on the other hand, didn’t find it particularly remarkable, as she had already tasted grape wine in her previous life.

A palace maid poured wine for everyone.

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