Kangning followed Ban Han to a small courtyard, which was exquisitely built and planted with exotic flowers and plants. She could tell that it was a woman's home. But she was the only one living in the Grand Royal Residence. Why would there be such a place?
"This courtyard is where I rest. There are clothes I haven't worn yet."
The servant of Great Elder Princess's Mansion opened the door of the room. Kang Ning saw that the room was very clean with all kinds of furnishings. It was even more exquisite than the room she lived in in the prince's mansion. Was it just a place for Ban Yu to rest?
"Ban Han," Kangning called out to Ban Han who was about to turn and leave. "Did you arrange for the maid who poured tea on me?"
"Next time you fall outside, will you suspect that I dug a hole for you at the door?" Ban Han thought that Princess Kang Ning's idea was a little strange. "Today is my grandmother's birthday banquet. What good would it do me to have a maid pour tea on you?"
"Because you want me to make a fool of myself in front of everyone." Princess Kang Ning had already seen through Ban Han's nature. She sneered. "Even if you're a princess now, your surname is Ban, not Jiang. I'm the real relative of the Imperial Family."
Ban Han couldn't help but roll her eyes. What was wrong with Kangning? Couldn't she think of something better? Besides, the Imperial Family's surname was Jiang now. In a few years, who knew what their surname would be?
Ban Han didn't want to argue with her, so she turned and left. She didn't want to talk to someone who wasn't clear-headed.
"Ban Han!"
"Princess Kang Ning." The servant of the Grand Royal Residence maintained a smile and said to Kangning, "Please come with me."
Princess Kang Ning looked at the nanny's cold smile and felt an indescribable pain in her heart. Her father couldn't become the Crown Prince because he was the Princess Royal. Naturally, he had no chance to become the Emperor. But now, her whole family had to dress up and come to celebrate the birthday of the Princess Royal. Moreover, they had to be more enthusiastic and humble than others.
Winner takes all, loser takes all!
If she was the Princess, what was Ban Han, this little b * tch?!
"Princess Kang Ning, what kind of clothes do you like?"
Kang Ning turned her head and looked into the room. There was a long row of wardrobes in the room, in which hung all kinds of gorgeous palace dresses. Every piece was embroidered with extraordinary craftsmanship. She was stunned and looked at the head servant, not knowing what she meant.
"These are the clothes that our Princess doesn't wear on her upper body. I usually take care of them." The nanny glanced at Kang Ning and took out a set of purple palace robes from the cabinet. "Your skin is fair and you have an extraordinary temperament. This set barely suits you."
This palace dress was very beautiful. The tail of the dress was embroidered with a soaring peacock, which was overflowing with light and color. It was very gorgeous.
Kang Ning was tempted, but she knew she couldn't wear it.
Everyone in the capital knew that Prince Hui advocated frugality and believed in Buddhism. His wives, concubines, and children never wore extravagant things.
"No." Kang Ning looked away and pointed at a plain-colored dress. "I like something simple."
The nanny took the dress for Kang Ning, but the moment the dress was put on her, Kang Ning realized something was wrong. The dress looked ordinary, but the fabric was snow satin, which was a tribute from the vassal countries. Because it was not easy to make, there was only a small amount of it. It was only for the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager. She didn't expect that the Grand Royal Residence would use such material to make dresses.
"What an otherworldly immortal." The nanny's eyes were full of admiration. "Your Highness, you have good taste. This dress really suits you."
Kang Ning stood in front of the bronze mirror, which was as tall as a person. Looking at her graceful figure, she couldn't say anything about changing out of this dress. This dress … the people of the Grand Royal Residence asked her to change into it. She didn't disobey her father's rules, did she?
When she walked out of the courtyard, Kang Ning felt that everyone was looking at her with amazement. When she sat down to drink tea, she couldn't help but wonder if Cheng Anbo had noticed her.
"Earl Rong is wise!"
"That's right!"
The rich playboys who had a good relationship with Ban Heng were of high status. It was the Princess Royal's birthday, so they naturally came to congratulate her. Originally, they thought that a person like Rong Xia would be full of rules and etiquette. However, after chatting with him this time, they found that he was a real gentleman, not a sour scholar who talked about rules all day long. Immediately, they became closer to Rong Xia.
The few who had a good relationship with Ban Heng weren't bad people, but generally, they didn't do proper things. They thought that Rong Xia was good, so they treated him as a brother. At the same time, they showed off their domineering fighting cock general and their brave cricket fighting marshal. When they gathered together, even if there was no wine or tea, it would still be lively.
When other people saw this scene, they only thought that Earl Rong was really well-mannered. Even in the face of these rich playboys, he could be patient and not blindly disdainful and impatient. A gentleman was indeed a gentleman. He did things in all aspects.
Although there were differences in views between the rich playboys and the progressive ones, the ending was still good.
After the banquet started, Rong Xia happened to be at the same table as Jiang Yuchen. Since Rong Xia helped Ban Han at the hunting ground last time, Jiang Yuchen and Rong Xia hadn't talked in private. At this time, the two of them were sitting at the same table. Jiang Yuchen's expression was not very good.
Rong Xia seemed to have forgotten the festival that day and got along well with the people at the same table. Only Jiang Yuchen seemed to be somewhat out of place. He hadn't been in the capital for a few years, and his good friends from when he was young had also become estranged from him. After they met, there was an awkward atmosphere.
"Heir Apparent, you've seen the local customs and customs outside the capital these years. Is there anything interesting?" Rong Xia picked up the wine pot and poured Jiang Yuchen's cup full of wine. "Tell us about it and broaden our horizons."
"Cheng Anbo is knowledgeable and has read a lot of books. Is there anything in the world that you don't know?" Jiang Yuchen drank the wine in one gulp. "I'd better not make a fool of myself."
The people at the same table originally wanted to follow Rong Xia and ask a few questions, but after hearing Jiang Yuchen's words, they all closed their mouths and didn't want to be rebuffed.
Cheng Anbo didn't seem to notice the impoliteness in Jiang Yuchen's tone. After he smiled and filled his cup again, he turned his head and whispered to the person on the right. But everyone who witnessed this scene felt that Jiang Yuchen was arrogant and condescending.
In reality, the words Jiang Yuchen said before he left the capital had already offended many people. The capital was a filthy place, so what were they, the people who stayed in the capital, considered?
If you're the only one who is untainted by the mud and has noble conduct, then why did you come back? Why are you crying and begging to keep your position as heir apparent? If you have the ability, then don't come back.
After eating and vomiting, you still have the nerve to complain that others are filthy. How shameless are you?!
Originally, everyone was only a little displeased with Jiang Yuchen. But after seeing Jiang Yuchen's attitude toward Duke Rong, who was highly respected in the capital, their displeasure turned into anger. Even a gentleman like Duke Rong had such an attitude, then what status did he have in his eyes?
What was the heir apparent of a prince's estate? Who among them wasn't of noble birth? Besides, who in the court didn't know what Prince Hui had done in the past? Otherwise, he wouldn't have acted like a sincere believer in Buddhism and was frugal and low-key.
They were all thousand-year-old foxes. Who didn't know each other? The Prince Hui of the past wasn't any better than the current troublemaking Second Prince.
Jiang Yuchen quickly sensed the coldness of the people at his table, but he couldn't find any fault with their etiquette. His gaze swept over these sanctimonious gentlemen, and a mocking smile appeared on his face.
Rong Xia rubbed the wine cup next to his hand. The smile on his face became even more gentle, so gentle that water could be squeezed out of it.
When others saw this, they only felt that Cheng Anbo was really magnanimous. He didn't make a fuss over such rude behavior.
The Princess Royal's birthday banquet was very lively. There were congratulatory gifts sent from the palace, and the Crown Prince personally came to congratulate her. This further highlighted her status in the imperial family. In addition, the Crown Prince was very close to the Ban Family. So, after the banquet ended, when everyone said goodbye to the Ban Family, the smiles on their faces became more polite and more eager.
Kang Ning was wearing a snow satin dress. When she appeared at the gate, she did attract a lot of attention. She swept her gaze over the courtyard and saw Cheng Anbo walking over. She stopped in her tracks. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Cheng Anbo walk over to another person.
Ban Han!
"Princess," Cheng Anbo bowed to Ban Han, "Thank you for the invitation, Princess. I enjoyed myself to the fullest today."
"It's a good thing that both the host and the guest enjoy themselves," Ban Han returned a curtsy, "Boye, you don't have to be so polite."
"This is a peony flower?" Rong Xia suddenly asked.
"Ah?" Ban Han paused and pointed to his forehead, "You mean this?"
Rong Xia didn't think that he would ask such a question. The smile on his face paused, and then became even brighter, "It is very beautiful."
"Yes," Ban Han nodded with a smile. His entire face became bright, "It is a peony flower."
A flower of riches and honor in the human world …
Only this kind of flower was worthy of such a gorgeous woman.
Rong Xia bid farewell to the Princess Royal, Ban Huai, and the others. He turned and walked out of the gates of the Princess Royal Residence.
"Boye Rong."
Rong Xia turned around and saw a woman wearing a snow white dress embroidered with red plum blossoms. The dress was very beautiful, but the hairpin and yellow forehead couldn't cover this dress. What a pity.
"Farewell, Princess Kang Ning." He bowed to the other party, mounted his horse, and left without looking back.
Kang Ning watched his departing figure and sat in a daze on the carriage. She leaned against the wall of the carriage and stroked the soft silky dress on her body. She clenched her fists little by little.
If only she was a princess. Then she could summon Cheng Anbo as her husband and live a beautiful life with him, drawing eyebrows in front of the mirror and painting in front of the window.
However, when she returned to the prince's residence, only her father's anger and her mother's sobs awaited her.
"How could you be so careless? Didn't I tell you early on not to wear luxurious clothes and not to be extravagant? How could you forget this prince's words?!" Prince Hui's eyes were red as he looked at the snow white satin dress on Kang Ning. "Go and change!"
"Why?!" Kang Ning looked at Prince Hui, aggrieved. "Ban Han, the legitimate daughter of a marquis, dares to live so extravagantly. I am the daughter of a prince's residence. How could I not be better than her?!"
"I am the princess of the Royal Family. What is she?!"
"Slap!"
A slap landed on her face.
"Are you disdaining your father for being incompetent?!" Prince Hui withdrew his trembling hand and said bitterly, "Now I am a fish on the chopping block. No matter how unwilling you are or how delusional you are, you must obediently endure it!"
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