"Jinyang, Chengyang, I sent people to look for you for so long just now. Why did you only come out now? Hurry up, hurry up. Auntie has specially prepared some delicious food for you. After you finish eating, let's go and see the plum blossoms in the plum garden together. How about it?"
Princess Yongjia put on a gentle smile and came over to hold the hands of the Li Jingyun sisters, but Li Jingyun dodged away.
"Greetings to Auntie Yongjia."
The two sisters bowed.
The scene fell silent, and everyone's eyes were fixed on these people.
Miss Yuan of the Yuan family looked at the Li Jingyun sisters and then thought about what had just happened. So those people were looking for them?
Were they just playing around?
To indulge the childishness of the two little princesses?
But judging from the expressions on both sides, it didn't seem so.
The obsequious smile on Princess Yongjia's face was too obvious. Instead, it looked rather fake. From the interaction between her and her nieces, it could be seen that Jinyang and Chengyang were not familiar with her at all.
Putting on an act of an affectionate aunt and filial nieces in front of outsiders? It seemed more like Princess Yongjia was feeling a bit guilty.
Li Jingyun was tired from playing and yawned. Someone brought her a cup of warm milk tea, but it still wasn't the flavor she usually liked, and the person who brought it wasn't one of her own servants. She just glanced at it and told the person to take it away.
The servant held the milk tea and helplessly glanced at Yang Yuzhi in the crowd, feeling that the milk tea in his hand was extremely heavy.
Yang Yuzhi cursed silently in his heart. Why didn't she drink it? This was all good stuff! Didn't she like milk tea the most?
Don't tell him that she had the ability to tell whether there was medicine in the bowl just by picking it up!
Did she know about his plan in advance?!
If Li Jingyun knew what was going on in Yang Yuzhi's mind, she would definitely shrug her shoulders. He was thinking too much. She just didn't like this flavor.
Their undercurrents didn't affect the confrontation between Princess Yongjia and Dou Fengjie. When their eyes met, it seemed as if sparks were flying.
Dou Fengjie's face was terribly gloomy, as if water could drip from it. His eyes swept across the guests and finally landed on Yang Yuzhi. He kept playing with a jade ring on his finger, and his mind was constantly changing.
Should he take action now?
They said that family scandals should not be made public, but he had come to this point. If he didn't take action, the cuckold on his head would be even greener!
Just then, a voice came from outside: "His Highness the Crown Prince is here!"
Everyone quickly got up and bowed.
Li Chengqian walked in wearing a long apricot-yellow robe with a big smile on his face. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone, get up. Hongxuan, Sizi, I heard that you two went out to play. Auntie Yongjia sent people to look for you several times but couldn't find you?"
Li Jingyun was stunned when she saw her elder brother suddenly appear.
Wasn't he supposed to be dealing with government affairs and busy with the court session?
Why did he come here?
"I heard that something happened to you two, so I pushed aside the things at hand. Let Lord Fang, Lord Wei and the others discuss it." Li Chengqian smiled. "I wish Auntie Yongjia a happy birthday."
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Princess Yongjia's face looked a bit better, and she managed to squeeze out a smile.
Yang Yuzhi was already unhappy because one of his plans had failed. Who would have thought that Li Chengqian would come? What was he doing here? Should he still do what he was going to do next?
As they were talking, the maids and servants had already cleaned up the place above. They set up another seat on the upper hand of Princess Yongjia and placed all kinds of fruits, vegetables and delicious dishes on it.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please take the upper seat." Dou Fengjie said.
"Uncle-in-law, you're being too polite."
Li Chengqian held one sister with each hand. "Everyone, please sit down. I'm just here to attend the family banquet. There's no need to be so formal."
Sitting beside her elder brother, Li Jingyun sat up straighter than ever. She happily enjoyed the delicious food served and ate to her heart's content.
Li Chengqian now understood that in the future, when children went out alone, there must be an adult following them, otherwise, something might easily happen.
Just like today, the Li Jingyun sisters had only been out for a little over two hours when someone came to report to him that the two princesses had disappeared after arriving at Princess Yongjia's mansion. Princess Yongjia had ordered a search in the mansion but had found nothing.
He was extremely anxious and rushed out in a hurry, throwing all the things at hand to the other prime ministers.
Whether it was Wang Gui, Tang Jian, Fang Xuanling, Du Yan or Wei Zheng, they were all the most trusted by his father. It must be okay to leave it to them.
He would have to trouble the lords to handle it for him first. He would go and check on his two troublesome sisters and then come back.
As soon as he arrived at Princess Yongjia's mansion, the two sisters appeared.
It seemed like it was just a game of hide-and-seek.
After this banquet was over, he must grab the two of them and ask them carefully what was going on.
But since he was already here, he might as well have a meal before leaving.
The banquet officially began. The singing, dancing and music were all wonderful, and the food was also good. Maybe the Li Jingyun sisters were too hungry, so they both ate very happily.
"This white dragon stew is so delicious, Big Brother. You should try it?" Li Jingyun still remembered Li Chengqian. She scooped up a spoonful of it with a delicate little spoon and put it into Li Chengqian's bowl.
The white dragon stew was actually mandarin fish soup. It was cooked to be tender and delicious, with a strong fragrance. It was obvious that it had been simmered for a long time. Just looking at it was enough to attract people's attention.
The banquet was filled with laughter and joy. It seemed that everyone was chatting very well.
Except for Yang Yuzhi. He seemed to be drinking alone in a gloomy mood. The maid beside him couldn't pour the wine fast enough to keep up with his drinking speed, and he didn't drink cleanly. Half of a cup of wine was spilled on his body, and most of his clothes were wet.
It was winter. Even though the windows in the room were tightly closed, cold wind still blew in from time to time. Wearing half-wet clothes, he soon sneezed.
No one went up to talk to him. His whole image was like a frustrated scholar, making people feel pity for him.
This was the emotion that Li Chengqian read from Princess Yongjia's face.
Beside Yang Yuzhi was Cheng Chuxia, who was chatting with others. He didn't dare to go and talk to Yang Yuzhi for fear of getting into trouble.
That guy was openly on bad terms with Princess Chengyang. He had just been punished because of the coal incident. Now that he was down and out, it was already good that he didn't follow suit to add insult to injury and show his loyalty to Princess Chengyang. How could he offer him a helping hand?
Moreover, maybe that guy didn't need his help.
"Yuzhi, why are you drinking like this? Hurry up, someone, help him go down and change his clothes!"
Princess Yongjia endured and endured, but finally couldn't stand it anymore. She felt so pity for Yang Yuzhi that she quickly told someone to take him down.
Then she took a look at the situation on the scene. The atmosphere was good. Everyone was chatting and laughing. Wasn't this just fine?
She casually found an excuse and went to the back to see Yang Yuzhi.
Li Chengqian was originally enjoying the delicious food happily. Suddenly, Dou Fengjie's personal bodyguard whispered something in his ear. Li Chengqian said, "This is all Auntie Yongjia's family matter. It's not convenient for me to interfere. Whatever the son-in-law wants to do, just do it boldly."
He didn't mind anyway. He might as well watch another good show.
The personal bodyguard left. Li Jingyun stared straight at him with her eyes. "Big Brother, what are you hiding from me again?"
"You're the most perceptive girl. Not even the slightest movement can escape your ears. You'll know in a while." Li Chengqian smiled.