The eleventh was the Seventh Imperial Prince's birthday. The birthday banquet was held in the evening. Xue Rui left early and took the gifts that the housekeeper had prepared to the Imperial Prince's fu.
On the day of the coronation, there were many guests. The carriages in front of the Imperial Prince's fu were like dragons. The fu was decorated with lanterns and streamers. The night was as bright as day. The birthday banquet was held in the western courtyard. There were a hundred tables in the banquet hall.
Xue Rui, the heir of the Xiang Prince, Liu Jiong, and the son of General Feng, Feng Zhaomiao, sat at a table for eight people. Not far away, the Seventh Imperial Prince, Liu Hao, sat alone. He was born with a strong appearance. Today, he was dressed in an apricot-yellow robe and a sleeveless white robe around his neck, making him look even more handsome. His face was radiant. Facing the toasts around him, he did not refuse and laughed brightly.
"This is really a joyous occasion." Liu Jiong played with the silver cup in his hand and said enviously, "Maybe today, good things come in pairs at the Imperial Prince's fu."
Feng Zhaomiao asked curiously, "What other good things?"
Liu Jiong smiled. His voice was not loud, just enough for the table to hear. "The Seventh Imperial Prince's fu doesn't lack for anything right now, just a good marriage. There has been no news from the palace before. Isn't it because of this good day?"
Xue Rui picked up some food to go with the wine and raised his head. From the time he had sat until now, he had not spoken much. Everyone at the table knew that he did not get along with the Seventh Imperial Prince and did not force him to joke around. Originally, it was enough to surprise everyone that he had come. That time at Ding Bo Hall, Xue Rui and Liu Hao had fallen out and broken their friendship with a cup of wine. Who didn't have eyes to see that?
After three rounds of wine, gongs and drums sounded outside the western courtyard. A decree had come from the palace.
When the decree team arrived, everyone at the banquet stood and bowed to listen. The taijian read loudly, carrying out the imperial decree. The Seventh Imperial Prince, Liu Hao, was bestowed with the title of 'Ning Wang', the Imperial Prince's fu was changed to Ning Wang Fu, and the Ministry of Works was ordered to repair it. He was also bestowed twelve sets of regular clothes, a scarlet-gold ribbon, a purple cloud sable, three hundred taels of gold, and an official sedan with a white jade roof.
Liu Hao accepted the edict with a beaming face. He must have known that there was a second edict, so he did not hurry to get up and reward the eunuch. He continued to kneel on the ground. As expected, the old eunuch held up the yellow cloth in his hand and shook it open. He continued to read: "Ning Wang Liu Hao. She was the youngest daughter of the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Heroic Martial, Cui. The two of them are a match made in heaven. I am fond of her. Cui shi's Ling Xin is hereby betrothed to be Ning Wang Fei and handed over to the Ministry of Rites to handle. Bestowed by the Emperor as a token of appreciation. "
This decree of marriage was expected by some people and also by others. In the banquet, other than those who were listening to the excitement, there were a few people whose expressions changed. The newly ascended Ning Wang Ye, who had been smiling just a moment ago, after hearing the decree, his expression clearly froze and he looked in a direction. Slightly further away from the main seat, there was a group of female guests, one of whom had a green floral fan covering her face. His expression could not be seen clearly in the light.
"Ning wangye. Accept the decree. "
"I understand. Thank you for your grace, Your Highness."
.....
"Strange, why isn't it her …" Liu Jiong muttered, but no one heard. He looked at Liu Hao, who was smiling and toasting in all directions. He shook the cup in his hand and said to the two people beside him: "Let's go, let's also go toast."
Feng Zhaomiao turned to Xue Rui and said: "Brother Rui?"
Xue Rui nodded, stood up to take the wine and went with them. Now that there were so many people, it was better to toast. It was better than later when there were fewer people and they would attract attention.
There were a few layers of people around Ning Wang. When they saw Liu Jiong coming forward, they consciously made way.
"Ning Wang, this little brother will toast you. Congratulations on your double happiness. In the future, when this Ning Wang fu is repaired, don't forget to hold a feast." Liu Jiong must have seen that Liu Hao was not satisfied with this marriage, so he did not pick this marriage to congratulate him like the others, but avoided the important and focused on the trivial.
"Alright!" Liu Hao responded forthrightly and drank a cup. His face was already drunk.
When it was Xue Rui's turn to toast, someone bumped into him from the side. The wine spilled out and the entire cup was poured on him. It was a mess.
Liu Hao happened to see this scene and frowned: "Someone come, bring Mr Xue to change clothes."
"No problem," Xue Rui brushed the wine stains on his body. It was a good opportunity to bid farewell. He bowed to Liu Hao and said: "Congratulations on Ning Wang's coronation. Thank you for your hospitality today. It is inconvenient for me to be here, so I will leave first."
Liu Hao did not allow him to leave: "Why haven't you toasted yet, where are you going? Today is my big day, you won't even give me this little bit of face?"
Judging from his words, he was obviously drunk. Liu Jiong secretly nudged Xue Rui with his elbow. Xue Rui knew Liu Hao's temper very well. When he saw this, it would be difficult for him to get away for a while, so he could only follow the maidservants of the prince's residence to change his clothes.
Not long after he left, Liu Hao also staggered out of the banquet.
The Prince's fu was very large. Because it had been renovated last year, Xue Rui did not know the way. He followed the maids after many turns to a guest room and took out the spare outer robes of the guests who stayed over when they were drunk for him to change into.
"You can go out and wait outside."
"Yes."
Xue Rui changed his clothes and sat on the side of the bed for a while. He was careful tonight and did not drink too much wine, so his mind was very clear. Thinking of Liu Hao's expression at the banquet, he raised a hand to rub his forehead and said in a light voice: "Luckily that marriage was broken off quickly, otherwise it would be …"
"Mr. Xue, are you done?"
Hearing the inquiry of the maid outside, Xue Rui hung the changed clothes in his hand and went out of the door: "Let's go."
It was still the maid who led the way with her head down. Xue Rui walked for a while and vaguely heard the noise of the banquet hall in the distance. The night was heavy, and the breath he exhaled became fog. His eyes fell on the maid in front of him inadvertently. His eyes paused and he frowned secretly. He remembered that the maid who led the way was taller, but this one seemed to be shorter.
Because Xue Rui remembered Yu Shu's warning, he was more careful throughout the night. So when he saw this unusual situation, he immediately became vigilant. He calmly sized up the surroundings and noticed that this wasn't the path he took when he came.
"Wait, I have a headache. Let me sit here for a while."
Xue Rui sat down on the side of the corridor. He supported his forehead with one hand and waved his hand to let the maid go first.
Seeing this, the maid hurriedly said: "Mr. Xue, the road in the prince's mansion is winding. Don't get lost again. It's cold at night. If you want to sit, you should sit in the front."
When Xue Rui heard this, he was even more unwilling to go. He probably knew that this person led him to the front for no good, so he closed his eyes. He leaned against the pillar.
"Mr. Xue, Mr. Xue?" The maidservant called out to him a few times. Seeing that he was ignoring her, she became anxious, but she couldn't force him. After looking left and right, she whispered, "Then this servant will pour you a cup of hot tea."
"No need. I don't know the way in the prince's mansion. What if I get lost after you leave?" Who was so bold to set a trap in the prince's mansion?
He just sat there for a while. Someone came to find him in the front.
"Brother Rui, why are you sitting here? Why don't you go back to the banquet?"
Xue Rui opened his eyes and looked at Feng Zhaomiao who was striding towards him. He glanced at the maid and stood up: "I drank too much. Let's go. "
The two walked forward together. There was a road on the left and right side of the corridor. When Xue Rui was recalling where to go, he heard a faint reprimand: "Please behave yourself!"
Xue Rui's footsteps stopped. This voice sounded slightly familiar, and he was just thinking about who it was. Feng Zhaomiao turned her head and asked suspiciously: "Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
Feng Zhaomiao looked around: "Let's go and take a look?"
Xue Rui hesitated for a moment. Then he heard a woman's panicked whisper not far away. He had no choice but to go and take a look.
"Let's go."
The maid couldn't stop them. The two strode down the corridor. After passing through a bush, they saw a man hugging a struggling woman in a small pavilion in front of them. The night was dark and the moon was blocking, so they couldn't see who it was.
Seeing this situation. Any man with guts would not just stand by and watch. The two's face changed, and they hurried forward. Feng Zhaomiao shouted: "Don't be rude!"
Xue Rui and Feng Zhaomiao pulled the man away from each side, leaving the woman to her own devices. The woman was free and retreated to the side of the pavilion in a panic, looking at them with a pale face.
"Xingxuan, I only love you, why don't you believe me!"
"Your Highness, don't talk nonsense. Xingxuan has a selfless relationship with you. It's your wishful thinking."
Hearing this, how could Xue Rui not know who the man and woman in the pavilion were?
"Let go, you two!" Liu Hao was drunk, and he was enraged in his heart, so he shouted out loudly before swinging Feng Zhaomiao away with one arm and smashing his fist towards Xue Rui who was at his side. Xue Rui was caught off guard, and he took half a step back before tilting his head to dodge this fist, and then Liu Hao turned around and kicked towards Feng Zhaomiao.
Feng Zhaomiao was Old General Feng's grandson, so how could he not have a few moves of martial arts? He immediately began to fight with Liu Hao, exchanging blows in the small pavilion, neither showing any signs of weakness.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Xue Rui turned around to look at the woman hiding behind him. Recognizing that it was indeed Ji Xingxuan, he secretly frowned. Just as he was about to let her leave first, he saw a few lanterns swaying over from the corner of his eyes and heard voices.
"What's going on over there?"
"It seems like a fight?"
"Hurry!"
"What are you all doing? Stop!"
Among the people who came, there were some that Xue Rui recognized, but there were also some that he didn't. They worked together to separate Feng Zhaomiao and Liu Hao.
As soon as the lanterns were lit up, everyone in the pergola would be able to see who was who. Ji Xingxuan's expression suddenly changed, and she lowered her head to hide behind the tall Xue Rui. When Xue Rui noticed this, he stood there without moving. Because of this, no one actually noticed that there was a woman in this pergola.
After venting his anger, Liu Hao had already sobered up a little. Seeing that there were so many people around him, his expression wasn't good. He snorted coldly and left, leaving a few people looking at each other in dismay. Liu Jiong was among them. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, your highness has drunk too much. Let's disperse. No one saw what happened tonight."
After Liu Jiong sent everyone away, he turned around to look at Feng Zhaomiao and Xue Rui. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed that someone was hiding behind Xue Rui with the corner of her skirt exposed. He asked suspiciously, "How exactly did this happen?"
Feng Zhaomiao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and didn't say a word. This was related to a woman's reputation. He wouldn't say anything.
"Many thanks to the two young masters. I will take my leave." Seeing that everyone had left, Ji Xingxuan lowered her head and bowed to Xue Rui and Feng Zhaomiao respectively before leaving in a hurry.
Xue Rui looked at her retreating figure. His expression didn't change, but his heart was filled with relief.
Tonight's incident, if he wasn't careful and didn't have Feng Zhaomiao with him, if he fought with Liu Hao and was seen by these people, coupled with Ji Xingxuan's presence, even if he had a hundred mouths, he wouldn't be able to clear his name.
What would people think of this incident as? The Eldest Young Master of the Xue family and the Seventh Prince fighting over a woman?
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