good season

In the blink of an eye, it will be the Spring Feast.

Last year's Spring Festival banquet was organized by Princess Jianing. This year, Princess Jiayi has emerged from the grief of losing her son and is in high spirits. She wishes she could hold banquets every day to show off her little girl.

Therefore, the task of organizing the spring banquet fell to her again.

However, news of the Second Prince's death came in early February. To save face, the Empress postponed the Spring Banquet. Although it was still called the Spring Banquet, it was actually already early summer.

Fortunately, it's not hot this year. You still need to wear extra clothes in the mornings and evenings. The sun is shining brightly and there's a gentle breeze.

Zhao Shiqing had already agreed to go to the Spring Banquet with Madam Yu.

Yan Xia is already engaged. Yan Er and Yan San are engaged since childhood, while Yan Er is playful and gets angry with anyone who mentions engagement. The others are still young, so Madam Yu's attendance at the Spring Banquet is just a formality.

Zhao Shiqing is in her prime, and her appearance at the Spring Banquet will attract attention. She has already decided that she will only reveal her true identity after her sister marries into the capital next year. As for now, that's definitely not an option.

So she ultimately decided to dress as a man.

I went there just to broaden my horizons; whether I'm male or female doesn't matter.

This time, Xiuxiu personally took charge of the design, wrapping a white cloth around her chest and wearing a wide robe, which perfectly concealed her increasingly exquisite figure.

After being disguised as a man, Zhao Shiqing looked two or three years younger than her actual age, and she blended in perfectly with the group of teenagers from the Yan family.

Madam Yu was delighted, but it was a pity. The second son was already engaged, the third son was a good-for-nothing, and the others were still young. Such good girls could not end up in the Yan family.

The most regrettable thing is that such a lovely girl couldn't be reincarnated into the Yan family.

Yunzhongyuan is owned by Princess Jiayi, and except for last year, the annual spring banquet in the capital is held here.

Two years have passed, and Princess Jiayi still looks as beautiful as ever. She appears a little fuller than before, but even more radiant.

Upon seeing Madam Yu, Princess Jiayi couldn't wait to show off her little darling: "Isn't she adorable? Isn't she beautiful? She's a little girl, born to me!"

Mrs. Yu rolled her eyes. "That's all you've got."

However, the little girl is so fair and tender, so pretty! How did she end up in Jiayi's belly? It would be so much better if she were in Jiayi's belly.

"It is quite cute. I'll take it and play with it for a few days, then I'll bring it back to you."

As she spoke, Madam Yu reached out to hug her child, but Princess Jiayi pushed her hand away, saying, "If you like it, have your own. Don't take mine."

Madam Yu was too lazy to pay attention to her. Back then, when she saw that Xiao Tanhua was handsome, Jiayi pretended to faint on the spot after only a few glances. She shamelessly fainted in Xiao Tanhua's arms. People secretly said that the Emperor Emeritus couldn't stand that the Xiao family had produced talented people, so he insisted on marrying his daughter to the Xiao family's most outstanding eldest son. But Madam Yu felt that it was half and half. Jiayi took a liking to him first, and the Emperor Emeritus went with the flow.

"Your Highness, I really envy you. Look how wonderful your life is. You have a consort by your side and a little girl to dote on. Unlike me, I have to worry about my son every day. Next year, my eldest son will get married, and I will have to take care of their grandson. Sigh, I am just destined to worry."

Princess Jiayi was furious when she heard this. If they can't compare their daughters, they start comparing their sons and grandsons. You wait, I'll make sure my eldest son gets married right now.

"Oh dear, you're right, Your Majesty."

Before he could finish speaking, Prince Consort Xiao pinched his waist from behind.

Princess Jiayi blushed and her heart pounded; she finally realized that she had almost let something slip.

"Hmph, for the sake of your daughter-in-law, I will not hold it against you."

Princess Jiayi picked up her daughter and swayed her in front of Madam Yu a couple of times before showing her off to others.

Madam Yu was so angry that she wanted to punch the Duke of Wei. It was all that useless man's fault that she couldn't have a daughter.

Just then, a dozen or so of the Yan family's mischievous boys came running over in a large group: "Auntie, this place is so boring, we want to leave!"

Mrs. Yu was annoyed by the sight of this group of people. The new clothes she had changed into when she left home were now practically rags.

Those who know them would mistake them for a group of bandits; those who don't would think they're sons of a duke's family.

She spotted Zhao Shiqing and Zhao Tingluo in the group. "Other people's kids are always so much better! Look at these two, so pleasing to the eye!"

"Don't you two want to play anymore?" she asked with a smile, her tone gentle and kind.

Yan Shiyi's lips twitched. Was her mother possessed by a ghost? She seemed like a completely different person.

Zhao Shiqing nodded. Actually, she originally wanted to come to the Spring Banquet for Wei Ya'er. Now Wei Ya'er is in prison. The person she wanted to see didn't come, and most of the others came for the blind date. None of the princes showed up either. Besides, Xiao Zhen didn't appear either.

Madam Yu didn't try to stop them. "Go, all of you," she said, "lest you get into a fight with someone and your in-laws see it, which would damage your image as a kind mother."

The Yan family group left without warning and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

With the children gone, Madam Yu, free of children, walked towards the Crown Princess of Fu.

The Crown Princess was talking to her youngest son, Xiao Bao, and despite being surrounded by so many nobles, no one spoke to her.

The heir apparent of the Prince of Fu was demoted to a commoner and sent to a manor. Although others cursed the heir apparent for his lack of virtue, they still kept their distance from the heir apparent's wife.

Who would dare to be close to a woman who, along with her son, leaves her husband with nothing?
However, Madam Yu didn't care. Yan Jiu and Zhao Tingluo were good friends, and she regarded Zhao Tingluo as her own child. She had also known the Crown Princess for a long time, and the two got along very well.

The Crown Princess decided to leave her father and keep her son. Madam Yu wholeheartedly agreed, saying it should have been done long ago; a man who is unfaithful is worthless.

"My grandson and the rest of my family left ahead of time," Madam Yu said with a smile.

When the Crown Princess saw it was her, she quickly told Xiao Bao to call for someone.

The two hadn't seen each other for a while, so they found a quiet place to chat and couldn't wait to share gossip.

"Sister Yu, did the Princess of Changling really get Prince Yan imprisoned?"

"Of course it's true. Someone like her would definitely be here today if she hadn't been arrested."

"Quite a few people didn't come today, not even the Third Prince's Consort. I must say, the banquet is less lively without her."

"Ha, does she still have the nerve to come here? Feng Yalan is her own sister, and she's still at Zizhu Temple. Isn't it all because of her?"

"Alas, what a pity for Miss Feng. Although she was a concubine's daughter, she was calm, reserved, and poised. I wonder how she is now."

As the two were chatting, one of Madam Yu's maids trotted over. She had brought four maids with her to the banquet today: two by her side and two outside. The one who came over was the one waiting outside for instructions.

"Madam, our young masters encountered the You family at the gate. The eldest son of the You family spoke rudely to Zhao Shisun, and our young master couldn't stand it, so he started fighting with the You family."

Madam Yu asked, "The You family? Which You family?"

The Crown Princess was also completely bewildered. Who was this You family? How dare they speak so disrespectfully to her son?
The maidservant quickly explained, "The You family is the maternal family of Consort You, and the eldest son of the You family is Consort You's nephew."

At that moment, both Madam Yu and the Crown Princess understood.

Madam Yu asked, "Which family has more people?"

Maid: "The You family has seven or eight people, while our family has forty or fifty."

Madam Yu was taken aback: "Why are there so many people?" The maid replied: "The two young masters from the Prince Lu's mansion just arrived and happened to run into us."

Madam Yu understood; her side not only had people from the Duke of Wei's mansion, but also from the Prince of Fu's and Prince of Lu's mansions.

"It's alright, let them fight. They're all brats with no energy to spare, might as well give them a good beating. Oh, and keep an eye on Young Master Bao, make sure he doesn't get hurt."

The young master Abao she mentioned is Zhao Shiqing.

I can beat my own brats, but I can't let my sister-in-law get hurt.

After the maidservant left to carry out her orders, Madam Yu asked the Crown Princess, "Have the You family members lost their minds and dared to speak so disrespectfully to A-Luo?"

The Crown Princess sneered, "Is there any need to ask? This is the Fourth Prince using the You family to warn us. Ever since His Majesty asked A-Luo to play with the Seventh Prince at the Lantern Festival, the Seventh Prince has been calling A-Luo to the palace to play from time to time, which the Fourth Prince finds annoying."

Madam Yu snorted: "If you're so capable, go challenge the Third Prince. What kind of prestige are you showing off by picking on a few children?"

At this very moment, Zhao Shiqing was in the middle of the battle.

Just as the Crown Princess had guessed, You Dalang had indeed come to give Zhao Tinglu a warning.

The You family was not originally qualified to attend the Spring Banquet.

Now that the Fourth Prince can serve Emperor Yongjia, the Crown Prince has been deposed, and the Second Prince and Fifth Prince are one dead and one imprisoned, the Fourth Prince, who was originally sitting on the sidelines, has suddenly risen to power and is on par with the Third Prince. As a maternal family, the You family has also risen in status, and You Dalang and You Sanniangzi have become well-known in the capital.

However, the You family wanted to take this opportunity to find a good marriage for the two of them. However, the brother and sister had been in the capital for half a year, but they were still not satisfied with the high-end options.

Just in time for the Spring Festival Banquet, Consort You asked the Fourth Prince to get invitations for her nephews and nieces, hoping they would find a good match at the banquet.

However, while You San Niangzi was at the Spring Banquet, You Da Lang was not. He had been waiting outside Yun Zhong Garden since early morning, intending to cause trouble for Zhao Tingluo.

In his view, Zhao Tingluo was just a brat who hadn't even grown up yet. He needed to teach him a lesson so that he would stay away from the Seventh Prince in the future.

As for why he wanted to give Zhao Tingluo a warning, You Dalang didn't really understand either.

The Seventh Prince is just a little kid, and the Emperor doesn't usually show him any favoritism. He poses no threat to the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince is seeing ghosts everywhere; he thinks everyone is a contender for the throne.

However, the You family needed to rely on the Fourth Prince's influence; whatever the Fourth Prince said, You Dalang would do.

Unfortunately, You Dalang was not very lucky. Although he waited for Zhao Tingluo, Zhao Tingluo was accompanied by people from the Yan family.

When it comes to fighting, You Dalang wouldn't dare to provoke the Yan family, but this is Yunzhong Garden, and he intuitively feels that the Yan family's brats wouldn't dare to act recklessly.

But he didn't expect that while the Yan family didn't make a move, the two freaks from the Prince Lu's mansion would.

Broken Stone Brothers: "You dare bully my brother? You're asking for it! Beat him to death!"

The two brothers rushed over first, one slapping the left cheek and the other the right. Before You Dalang could react, his nose was bleeding profusely.

Although the You family is virtually unknown in the capital, back in their hometown, they are undoubtedly a powerful maternal family of a prince. You Dalang is a notorious little tyrant; he's the one who beats others, and no one else ever beats him.

You Dalang immediately became anxious and started punching people, and his servants joined in the attack.

The Yan brothers were also anxious. "Your You family has so many people, yet you broke the stone and only had two brothers. Isn't this bullying us?"

"Brothers, let's attack together! And those from the Prince Lu's Mansion, your young master has been beaten, what are you all standing there for? Charge!"

Outside Yunzhong Garden, a brawl broke out. Zhao Shiqing originally wanted to protect the youngest children, but six-year-old Yan Shisan and five-year-old Yan Shisi, like two wolf cubs, darted out from beside her and bit the legs of the You family servants.

Zhao Shiqing. Okay, when it comes to fighting, your Yan family is still the best.

The Yan brothers were skilled in fighting and biting, and the You family servants were all trained fighters.

A servant lunged at Zhao Tingluo, but Zhao Shiqing, quick-witted and agile, grabbed a brick that someone had thrown at her and smashed it over the servant's head.

The servant was suddenly hit with a brick, his head bleeding profusely. Zhao Tingluo then kicked the servant twice more.

The maidservant rushed over and found Zhao Shiqing in the crowd: "Young Master Bao, my mistress asked me to watch over you. Please come with me quickly."

Just as Zhao Shiqing was about to leave, the servant who had been lying on the ground suddenly got up and, with all his might, grabbed her foot.

Zhao Shiqing tried to shake him off, but the servant held on tightly. Just when she thought she couldn't get rid of him, a pebble suddenly flew over and hit the man's elbow. His forearm went numb, and he let go of one hand. Zhao Shiqing took the opportunity to free her foot. Still not satisfied, she kicked the man several times. The servant no longer had the strength to get up. Only then did she look in the direction where the pebble had been thrown.

I laughed when I saw it.

She didn't need to look at that unfamiliar new fake face to know who it was.

Xiao Zhen!

Where did this guy come from?

The battle here has also been decided; You Dalang and all the men he brought were defeated.

By the time Zhao Shiqing snapped out of her reverie and tried to greet Xiao Zhen, Xiao Zhen had already disappeared.

Everyone was very happy. Zhao Tingluo said he would treat everyone, and everyone agreed wholeheartedly. They went to the restaurant arm in arm.

Only after they left did the people from Princess Jiayi's residence come out to clean up the mess.

Someone rushed over and reported to Prince Consort Xiao. Prince Consort Xiao had finally welcomed his eldest son and hadn't even had a chance to enjoy family life when he heard about this.

Xiao Zhen said, "It was the You family who provoked us by causing trouble at the entrance of Yunzhong Garden. Who gave them the audacity? Send them to the Fourth Prince's residence, and then send someone to the palace to report to Her Majesty the Empress."

Now that the Fourth Prince is a favorite of the Empress, this matter should naturally be reported to the Empress.

Prince Consort Xiao did not want to cause trouble, but since his son had said so, he did as he was told.

Even though the son doesn't live at home, he's the one who has the final say there. Both he and the princess have to listen to him.

The next day, the fourth prince eagerly went to the palace to apologize.

He didn't expect You Dalang to be so stupid. Seeing Zhao Tingluo with the Yan family, he still wanted to cause trouble. Couldn't you have waited until Zhao Tingluo was alone before making your move?
Live it!

Because of this incident, he offended the Prince of Fu's mansion, the Prince of Lu's mansion, and the Duke of Wei's mansion at the same time.

The fourth prince gritted his teeth and said what he had thought of on the way: "Father, although the situation of the flood in Tongzhou is still uncertain, I believe that there is no such thing as a trivial matter when it comes to the country. I would like to go to Tongzhou with the officials of the Ministry of Works to dredge the waterway. I ask that you give me this opportunity!"

He knew this was a thankless task, but now that You Dalang had caused such a huge disaster, he had no other choice but to take this path.

Emperor Yongjia thought about it and then agreed.

Soon, the Ministry of Works also submitted the list of accompanying officials, and Yang Shengqiu was prominently listed! (End of Chapter)