Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 233: Is there any appearance of an old friend?

After making a wish and returning home, Wu Shiming left on his own.

Not long after, Cheng Xi sent another invitation.

After Xuyuan took a look at the time, he put the invitation away.

Although the opening banquet of Prince Cheng's Mansion was prepared hastily, the name of the Third Prince had already been known to everyone.

After Xu Yuan left, many people gathered in front of Prince Cheng's Mansion, and many rich ladies asked their drivers to stop their carriages outside Prince Cheng's Mansion, wanting to take a look at the most handsome man in the capital.

Bei Yao didn't like leaving the palace before. Even when he left the palace, he would wear a bamboo hat and not let anyone see him.

But it's different now.

You can’t enter the imperial palace, but you can go anywhere in front of Prince Cheng’s mansion.

What's more, the third prince used to have an engagement, and his wife was the legitimate daughter of the Song family. But now, the third prince not only has no engagement, but he has also been crowned a king.

If the Third Prince takes a fancy to me, she will become his future consort.

Therefore, many girls were eagerly waiting outside Prince Cheng's Mansion. The carriages were so numerous that they blocked the four nearby streets.

The Bei Yuan Dynasty’s carriages were also blocked at the outside.

Bei Yuan didn't want to go to Chengwang Mansion, but had to go for the sake of face. At this moment, the carriage was blocked outside.

Hearing the voices of young ladies praising Bei Yao's good looks, Bei Yuan finally couldn't help it. He lifted the carriage curtain and said to Cheng Huan, "All the ministers above the third rank in the court have received invitations to the opening banquet of Prince Cheng's Mansion. There are so many carriages blocking the road. It's fine if I can't get in, but if my father can't get in either, who will bear the blame?"

Bei Yuan finished speaking and said, "Cheng Huan, go to Cheng Wang Mansion to find the Third Prince and handle the matter quickly to avoid giving people a chance to criticize you."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Huan immediately understood Bei Yuan's intention and nodded, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I will go to the Chengwang Mansion now."

Bei Yuan nodded.

Cheng Huan had just climbed down from the carriage and was about to walk to Prince Cheng's Mansion when he saw the crowd in front of him dispersing. The carriages that had been jammed just now were now leaving the place in an orderly manner.

Cheng Huan walked to the carriage and said, "Your Highness, everyone has dispersed."

Bei Yuan lifted the curtain of the car.

Sure enough, the carriages all around were moving slowly forward. Although not fast, they were not unable to move at all like before.

Bei Yuan said: "What's going on?"

"I'll go ask." Cheng Huan said, and immediately trotted away. After asking, he returned to the carriage and said, "Your Highness, it was Prince Cheng who arranged a buffet. All the famous restaurants in the capital are holding buffets today, specially to entertain the people who didn't receive the invitation."

"Just a buffet?" Bei Yuan didn't believe it.

Buffet banquets are not uncommon. If there is a happy event in a wealthy family, they will set up a buffet, but none of them are as lavish as Beiyao's.

So, how could a buffet be enough to disperse all the carriages blocking Prince Cheng’s mansion?

"Not only the buffet, the Poetry Pavilion is reopening its poetry meeting today. Over at the Moonlit Tower, the courtesan is also performing on stage today. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be today. I don't know where the people came from, beating drums and gongs and shouting all over the street..."

"That's enough." Bei Yuan didn't want to listen anymore. He lowered the curtain and said in a cold tone, "Let's go to Prince Cheng's Mansion."

-

When the wish was made, many guests had already arrived at Prince Cheng's Mansion.

After Xu Yuan handed over the invitation, the maid at the door saw it and said with a smile: "Young Master, please follow me."

Xu Yuan followed the maid and walked only a few steps when he heard someone shouting from the other side: "Madame Sheng, I have something to say to this young man. Now that I have finished speaking, I will take him to the men's room."

It’s Concubine Xing.

Xuyuan tilted his head to look.

It seemed that Concubine Xing had been waiting at the door since early morning, and it also seemed that she had been waiting for her since early morning. Her hair and clothes were covered with snowflakes.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Sheng, who was leading the way, stopped immediately and said, "Yes, Madam Xing Fei, I will take my leave."

"Go ahead." Concubine Xing waved her hand.

Xu Yuan bowed and said, "Xu Yuan greets the Concubine Xing."

"No need to be polite."

"You just want to make a wish, right?"

There were guests all around, and Concubine Xing had a very good sense of propriety. She said, "I heard that a talented person has recently emerged in the Poetry Pavilion. I have always liked people with real talent and knowledge, so I called you to stop. If it is rude..."

"I dare not make a wish." Xu Yuan never looked up, and it was the same at this moment.

Concubine Xing is the emperor's woman. If it weren't for the banquet at Prince Cheng's Mansion today, she would probably never be able to leave the palace in her life.

Of course, she couldn't see it either.

There are many people coming and going today, so I dare not make any mistakes when making a wish so as not to arouse suspicion from others.

Hearing this, Concubine Xing smiled and said, "It's quite interesting. It's worth waiting for so long."

Concubine Xing gently brushed the snow off her sleeves, and the palace maid beside her immediately opened an umbrella.

Concubine Xing said, "My brother is here today. He likes talented people more than I do. It's a good opportunity for me to see if you have real talent."

"Yes." Xu Yuan nodded and followed Concubine Xing carefully.

As soon as the two people left, someone said, "I don't know what kind of ability this wish-making has. Even Empress Xing came to invite people in person."

"You don't know him?"

"What happened to him? I heard that he didn't even pass the exam for Wenhua Palace."

"You are so ignorant. My father's elder brother is the teacher of Wenhua Palace. He said it himself that the teacher deliberately made things difficult for Xuyuan in the exam and changed his answer sheet. If not for that, he would have entered Wenhua Palace long ago."

"If you ask me, this is nothing. The most impressive thing is that he broke into the Taiwei Mansion with a sword and escaped unscathed. Guess what happened to the Taiwei Mansion afterwards? Father and son went into battle together and went to wait for someone at the door of Xu Yuan's house."

"I think Xuyuan's literary talent is the best."

"No, no, no, none of them. The most amazing thing is that he rejected the solicitation of the Prime Minister's Mansion, ignored the Censor's Mansion, broke into the Grand Marshal's Mansion, and was able to enter the Prince's Mansion. Tell me, how amazing is he?"

"The Crown Prince's Mansion? But didn't Xu Yuan just leave with Concubine Xing?"

"The mother's family of Concubine Xing is a scholar's mansion, so Scholar Shen is the prince's teacher? Can't you see this?"

Hearing this, there was another sigh in the crowd.

Xu Yuan followed Xing Fei quietly, unaware of the discussions.

Not long after they walked, Concubine Ying pointed to a pavilion and said, "That's my brother, the head of the Shen family. The one next to him is the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Yichuan. You should know him."

Make a wish and nod.

The pavilion is surrounded by water on three sides and there is only one way to get through.

After getting on the water pier, Concubine Xing's maid stopped and did not follow.

Xu Yuan was a little worried and was about to decline. Seeing this, Concubine Xing smiled and said, "It's okay. This is Prince Cheng's mansion. We are not alone here. This pavilion is surrounded by water on three sides and there is no shelter. We are not afraid of being heard by others. Even if someone sees us, my brothers and nephews are here too, so no one will gossip."

From "this palace" to "me".

Xu Yuan clearly felt that Concubine Xing's tone had become lighter.

Xu Yuan didn't know what Concubine Xing was going to do, and he didn't want to offend Concubine Xing, so he said, "Yes."

Shen Yichuan was talking to Mr. Shen when he saw Concubine Xing coming with Xu Yuan, and his voice stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong?" Master Shen didn't understand. He turned around and saw Concubine Xing. He said, "It's just that your aunt is here. Is it necessary to be like this?"

"Brother, Ji Huai is not surprised that I am here."

From a distance, Concubine Xing heard Master Shen scolding Shen Yichuan. After she finished explaining, she turned sideways and said, "Brother, take a look. Does he look like an old friend?"