Her guards

Chapter 56 Gossiping at the Banquet

Qin Ying's invitation specified a private room at Dengyun Tower, unlike Yang Luo's previous statement that the celebration would only be held in the main hall, after all, she is the daughter of the Grand Herald.

To ensure fairness during the previous exams, no one revealed their identity. After the exams, there was no need to avoid each other. Qin Ying's invitation even included her father's position.

"Oh, I heard that this person is in charge of ceremonial duties, the audiences of princes and nobles, and the audiences of officials in the outer court. He must be a very shrewd and capable person."

The young hunter said after looking at it.

In fact, Yang Luo didn't even know what kind of position it was, but the young hunter knew quite a lot.

“Even a coachman who picks up and drops off ladies isn’t idle all day,” the young hunter said, raising an eyebrow.

That makes sense. The companions all have coachmen, servants, and maids. While waiting for their young mistresses, they can easily gather together to inquire about news. Yang Luo felt relieved.

In that case, Qin Ying is indeed like father, like son. She is very shrewd and resourceful. During the selection process, she openly stated that she wanted to make friends, and even though she didn't pass the exam, she still maintained contact with her fellow students.

Since the young hunter said that the Qin family was very shrewd and resourceful, and Qin Ying had warned him not to mess with Yang Hui, Yang Luo decided to attend the banquet.

Perhaps we can get some information from Qin Ying about the past between the Duke of Ding'an and the Emperor.

Lost in thought, Yang Luo arrived at the room Qin Ying had booked. Maids, servants, and shop assistants stood at the door. Taking the invitation and asking her name, Yang Luo opened the door and announced loudly, "Miss Liu from the National Academy has arrived!"

As the door opened, Yang Luo heard the laughter and chatter inside immediately cease. She walked in, and the person in front of her looked surprised; clearly, they hadn't expected her to actually come.

"I knew it!" Qin Ying was the first to react, shouting loudly, "Miss Liu will definitely come."

Despite saying that, her face showed an incredulous surprise.

Yang Luo smiled at her: "When I first arrived, I was very grateful to Miss Qin for taking the initiative to talk to me and ease my nervousness."

Qin Ying smiled so hard her round eyes narrowed into slits. Kindness always pays off. A smile and a few warm words were all it took. She took Yang Luo's hand and invited her to sit down.

They deliberately avoided mentioning Yang Hui.

It was obvious that Qin Ying knew their relationship was tense.

But Yang Hui wouldn't let Yang Luo off the hook, and sneered, "So Miss Liu is ignoring us because we didn't speak to you first?"

Yang Luo looked at her with a half-smile: "Miss Yang, I haven't been ignoring you. It's your admission that's improper, yet you're still making a fuss about it."

Yang Hui's face flushed with anger. She didn't know where this country bumpkin got the audacity to bully her.

"Alright, alright, I'll treat everyone to tea today and we won't talk about your school." Qin Ying quickly persuaded, then sighed, "You are either very knowledgeable or very lucky, but I have nothing. I can't get into the National Academy and I'm not qualified to be by the princesses' side. I'm both envious and heartbroken."

Qin Ying has always been popular, and the others immediately chimed in with their agreement. Yang Hui's indignation subsided somewhat because of Qin Ying's comment about her good fortune. She glared at Yang Luo and ignored her. Moreover, this time she held back and didn't shout that she had gone to teach Yang Luo's family a lesson. She just muttered to the people around her, "She has no manners. I don't know how her family raised her."

Yang Luo stopped making a fuss and sat down with Qin Ying.

"I'm sorry, it's because I don't get along with her that I embarrassed you," she apologized.

Qin Ying smiled and shook her head: "I know you two don't get along. I invited you all here because I was prepared. Don't worry about it." She then whispered, "You should pay less attention to her in the future."

Yang Luo looked at her and said softly, "You warned me not to provoke her before, but her behavior is really arrogant. There are many princes and dukes in the capital. Do all the parents and their children have such temperaments?"

Qin Ying laughed and said, "Of course not."

Yang Luo whispered, "Did she really reveal at the National Academy that she has the Empress's backing?"

"Yang Hui really has no sense of propriety when she speaks," Qin Ying muttered.

Yang Luo looked at Qin Ying and said, "Please teach me, Miss Qin. I finally came to the capital, and I originally thought that I could get a foothold with my knowledge. Now it seems that I was naive."

"Isn't that naive? What does knowledge even matter?" Qin Ying thought to herself.

This Miss Liu from the countryside is indeed a bit reckless; one should not associate with such a person and should stay away from her.

But for some reason, from the first moment Qin Ying saw her, she felt that this woman was extraordinary.

That's strange, it doesn't make sense.

Let's trust our intuition then.

Qin Ying sat down beside her and whispered, "Did you know that the Yang family of Ding'an Duke were once neighbors with His Majesty?"

Yang Luo nodded: "I've heard of it, but His Majesty has many neighbors and companions. Does that mean they can rely on that?"

Qin Ying coughed lightly, glanced around, and saw that the young ladies were all talking to each other.

“There is something that few people know,” she said softly. “The Duke of Ding’an’s family had an excellent relationship with His Majesty when he was young, and they almost became in-laws.”

In-laws of one's children.

Yang Luo felt her heart skip a beat.

"The Yang family's daughter." She heard her own voice low and hoarse. But before she could finish asking the question, Qin Ying interrupted her.

"No, it was almost over. Later, due to the war, His Majesty left his homeland to fight abroad and never returned. He married into the Chai family while away, so the matter was naturally dropped. But even so, it shows how close the two sides are. Therefore, the Duke of Ding'an holds a special place in His Majesty's heart. You must remember, it's okay to bicker once or twice, but never really anger the Duke of Ding'an's mansion."

Qin Ying's voice seemed to come from near and far, and Yang Luo was somewhat lost in thought, her hands clenching tightly.

Almost?

Was it really just a near-marriage?

"Miss Jiang has arrived."

At this moment, a maidservant entered with a smile, but Jiang Rui did not follow her in. From the open door, she heard lively greetings and salutations.

“Young Master Yongwu, it’s been a long time.”

"The Crown Prince has come today as well?"

The laughter and chatter inside the room ceased instantly, and the women immediately rushed towards the door. Qin Ying couldn't help but stand up and say, "The young master of the Marquis of Yongwu!" She then pulled Yang Luo and said, "Don't you know him too? Go and see him."

Yang Luo was pulled by her towards the door. Passing by the ladies standing by the door, she immediately saw Zhu Yunxiao standing in the corridor.

The young gentleman, dressed in a moon-colored robe and cinched with a black and gold belt, stood tall and straight, his face as white as jade, shining like the bright moon. Jiang Rui, dressed simply, stood beside him, appearing somewhat overshadowed.

Noticing the numerous gazes directed at him, Zhu Yunxiao nodded to Jiang Rui, "Then I'll go over."

Jiang Rui nodded slightly to him, and Zhu Yunxiao turned and went upstairs.

Jiang Rui walked over slowly and was instantly surrounded by the women.

"Did the Crown Prince send you here?"

"The Crown Prince has been so considerate to you."

Everyone chimed in with jokes and expressions of envy.

Jiang Rui smiled and said, "He happened to be hosting a banquet today and came along as well."

“I know, it’s my cousin’s treat,” a young lady said. “The young master originally said he had something to do and wouldn’t be coming, but I didn’t expect him to come today. It seems he came specifically to see Sister Jiang off.”

She laughed as she spoke.

"My cousin should thank Miss Jiang."

The other women laughed, not with a hint of mockery, but with envy. What woman wouldn't want a husband who cherishes her so much?

"That's really just putting on an act, being insincere with people."

Someone sneered.

These words startled everyone. Jiang Rui's expression stiffened slightly, and she subconsciously looked in the direction of the voice, where she saw Yang Luo.

Jiang Rui's usually aloof face grew even colder.

She didn't care if Miss Liu looked down on her or didn't associate with her, but to actually humiliate Zhu Yunxiao... that was too much!
"Miss Liu, do you know him?" Jiang Rui asked coldly.

Yang Luo turned her gaze away: "I don't know her."

"How can you presume to judge someone you don't even know?" Jiang Rui frowned. "You're still studying at the Academy of Chinese Learning; where have you learned the principles taught by the sages!"

When Yang Luo said she didn't know him, she knew she would be questioned by Jiang Rui. She had lost her composure when she saw Zhu Yunxiao earlier and didn't want to say anything more, but when she heard Jiang Rui's words, she was both annoyed and amused.

She looked at Jiang Rui and said coldly, "Miss Jiang, your fiancé can put on an act for others, so he can certainly put on an act for you too. If you can't even see that, then you've wasted your education!"

A deathly silence fell over the hall, and everyone stared wide-eyed.

Qin Ying looked doubtful, wondering if her intuition was wrong. Was this boorish country bumpkin really worth befriending?

“I told you so—” Yang Hui shouted, “She’s hostile towards all of us—”

Just then, a soft shout came from outside the door.

"shut up!"

Yang Hui's voice was interrupted, and everyone's gaze turned to the source of the sound again, their expressions becoming even more awkward.

Zhu Yunxiao returned at some point and stood at the door.

The young man looked at the unfamiliar young lady with a somber expression.

(End of this chapter)