Cui Manor.
The head of the Cui family was also looking distressed.
Logically speaking, receiving an invitation from the Prince's manor should have been an honor. However, the invitation specifically requested that Cui Qingluo and her brothers, Cui Tong, accompany her.
The Prince of Duan was notorious, how could she not be worried?
Thinking of this, she regretted again that she hadn't arranged marriages for her two sons earlier.
Thus, the head of the Cui family secretly decided that once this matter was over, she would arrange marriages for her two sons as quickly as possible.
...
Evening.
Nian Jiaojiao returned home with her five husbands.
This outing could be described as "returning with a full harvest."
Everyone had bought quite a few things on the way.
However, as soon as they alighted from the carriage, a young man dressed as a servant hurried over.
"Are you Lord Nian Jiaojiao?"
Nian Jiaojiao raised an eyebrow.
"I am."
The servant showed a look of relief.
This was his first time visiting such a household. The entire family had gone out, leaving not a single person to guard the house, so he could only wait by the entrance.
Now that the invitation had been delivered, he could finally return to report.
"This is an invitation. Please keep it safe."
After Nian Jiaojiao accepted the invitation, the servant hurried away.
"Wife-owner, who sent this?" Yu Chuan asked.
"Let's discuss it in the room."
...
Main Hall.
Nian Jiaojiao sat in the main seat, having already finished reading the invitation.
An invitation from the Prince's manor...
As far as she knew, this Prince was the third daughter of the Great Yue Empress, and she had already heard about the succession dispute.
She did not have high hopes for this Third Prince.
The Third Prince's birth mother was merely a concubine, making his father's status the lowest among all the Imperial Princesses' fathers.
Furthermore, this consort's maternal family was merely the son of a small city lord, which was insignificant compared to the consorts backed by great generals, ministers, and chancellors.
Moreover, this Prince of Duan himself was unlearned, greedy for wealth and lustful, and had a terrible reputation.
And yet, he dreamed of competing with other Imperial Princesses.
If it were her, she would find a competitive sister to align with and support them, which would be better than being in a losing situation.
However, Nian Jiaojiao thought this way, but she would not refuse the invitation from the Prince's manor out of ignorance.
Her participation would be that of an insignificant minor figure.
If she didn't attend.
Refusing the Prince's humble request might lead to her name being listed in the Prince of Duan's manor.
"I will attend the banquet tomorrow, so you don't need to wait for me to return for dinner," Nian Jiaojiao said.
Tong Ziyao said:
"Wife-owner, since it is the Prince's birthday, the gift cannot be taken lightly. With time being tight, we will go out tomorrow morning to select a gift."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded and said:
"It is best to choose something that is neither too cheap nor too expensive, something that can express the sincerity of a common scholar presenting a gift. Ordinary and unremarkable is fine."
Yu Chuan said somewhat impatiently:
"Wife-owner, your requirements are quite a lot, more difficult to choose than a valuable gift."
Nian Jiaojiao smiled sheepishly.
However, Tong Ziyao nodded resolutely:
"Wife-owner, Ziyao understands. Tomorrow, I and Brother Yuchuan will help you pick a suitable gift."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded:
"Alright, then I will trouble both of you husbands."
...
The next day.
As dusk settled.
Nian Jiaojiao, accompanied by Tong Ziyao, entered the Prince of Duan's manor, and the gift was handed over to the butler at the entrance.
Yu Chuan and Nan Qing were too handsome, which did not fit Nian Jiaojiao's desire for discretion.
Xuan Yi was not interested in attending such occasions in formal attire.
Although Xingyun wanted to go, Nian Jiaojiao refused.
Not for any other reason, but because Xingyun's appearance was the type that the Prince of Duan liked. Although her understanding of the Prince of Duan was only hearsay, and it was just a meal, she did not want to take the risk.
As for Tong Ziyao, he had attended banquets with his mother before, and his temperament was relatively calm, so it was more appropriate to take him along.
Regardless of how favored this Third Prince was, this palace was still within the specifications of an Imperial Princess's residence.
Nian Jiaojiao admired the scenery as she walked.
These were magnificent buildings with a clean and elegant style, vermillion walls and yellow tiles, white jade railings, and meticulously carved bluestone foundations... all of which indicated that this was no ordinary residence.
Quite a few people had already arrived by this time, and Nian Jiaojiao had timed her arrival deliberately.
She held Tong Ziyao's hand and found a secluded seat at the lower section.
Of course, she could not sit in the upper section.
Unlike the free seating at the lower section, honored guests at the upper section would have their arrival announced by a maid.
At this moment, a resonant voice echoed throughout the courtyard, and people at the lower section immediately took their seats, daring not to make any more noise.
"The Head of the Cui family and family members come to offer congratulations!"
"The Head of the Luo family and family members come to offer congratulations!"
"The Head of the Qiu family and family members come to offer congratulations!"
As soon as the voices fell, a group of people walked into the courtyard. The Prince had not yet entered and taken his seat, so they merely smiled and responded to those around them before finding their seats.
The members of the three great families sat at the upper section, but at the last seats of the upper section.
Below, there was a quiet discussion.
"There are several great families in the Royal City, why have only three arrived?"
"Perhaps they are on their way."
"You don't know that. If there were others to come, they would have arrived with these three families. If they were any later, arriving with those of high status or even the Prince, would they dare?"
"Then, for the Prince's birthday, do these families dare not come?"
"Heh, of course, they dare. The families that haven't come today have already declared their allegiance. Why would they come now?"
"I see. It seems that only those who haven't taken sides, who dare not offend anyone, would attend when invited."
As everyone was discussing, the singing outside continued.
"The Prince of Shizhou Prefecture comes to offer congratulations!"
"The Prince of Qingzhou Prefecture comes to offer congratulations!"
"The Prince of Sanzhou Prefecture comes to offer congratulations!"
"The Prince of Wudingzhou Prefecture comes to offer congratulations!"
...
Gradually, the upper seats were almost full.
Nian Jiaojiao did not join the excitement, focusing instead on peeling shrimp for Tong Ziyao.
Tong Ziyao whispered into Nian Jiaojiao's ear:
"Wife-owner, others have their husbands peeling shrimp for them, you don't need to do it for me..."
Nian Jiaojiao smiled and placed the just-peeled shrimp into Tong Ziyao's bowl:
"I just like to watch you eat shrimp. Besides, men might find peeling shrimp ungraceful and give up eating shrimp. If I don't peel it, will you eat it?"
Tong Ziyao was touched.
He did like eating shrimp; his wife-owner was truly observant.
Nian Jiaojiao continued to peel shrimp when she suddenly felt two gazes fixed upon her, one of which felt somewhat familiar.
So, she looked up.
She saw that two people at the upper section were staring at her.
Nian Jiaojiao quickly recognized one of them as Qin Binbin, who was disguised as a woman. Therefore, the other person was undoubtedly the Prince of Qingzhou.
However...
Was this Prince of Qingzhou so amiable? And smiling and nodding at her? What was with that satisfied gaze?
Nian Jiaojiao's lips twitched.
But out of politeness, she nodded back to acknowledge the gesture.
Then, she saw Qin Binbin lean over and whisper something into the Prince's ear.
Could this fellow be trying to get his mother to cause her trouble and settle the score?
After all, she had repeatedly rejected him without regard for consequences.
Just as Nian Jiaojiao was speculating, a voice announced, "The Prince of Duan has arrived," and the entire venue instantly fell silent.
She followed everyone's gaze to the back and saw the "Prince Duan monkey" in splendid attire swaggering over.
Was the food at the Prince of Duan's manor not good? How could she manage to eat delicacies and yet look like an African refugee?
The dozen or so consorts following behind the Prince of Duan also added to his grandeur.
It was said that these were only those who had been granted official titles, and there were many more without titles...
What a waste, what a waste.
This Prince of Duan looked like he could never be satisfied; wasn't this a misuse of nature's gifts?
However, it was good that she hadn't brought Xingyun with her.
Looking at the consorts of this Prince, they were all of the "innocent white lotus" type. Her own Xingyun was also close to fitting that appearance.