nucmednet Chapter 94, Part 2: Surprise!
Chapter 94, Part 2: Surprise!
No matter how much the Seventh Princess pleaded with her, Su Mowan refused to agree to 'harm' Shangguan Qingqi.
Although the Seventh Princess was very disappointed, she did not dare to show her displeasure to Su Mowan.
Firstly, she felt that this sister-in-law was not the kind of person who could be easily bullied; secondly, she had received favors from Su Mowan; and thirdly, her third brother and this sister-in-law had a very good relationship.
At least that's what the Seventh Princess thinks.
The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was held in the Imperial Garden.
Although Jingyang Palace is not far from the Imperial Garden, it still takes about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to get there.
Su Mowan noticed that there were many more guards along the way than when she came during the day.
I heard there will be singing and dancing performances at tonight's banquet.
Su Mowan glanced at the Seventh Princess, who was walking beside her with little interest, and casually asked, "Does the Seventh Princess have any performances tonight?"
When the Seventh Princess heard her ask this, she proudly raised her head and said, "Of course I am! Sister-in-law, just wait and see my performance!"
Seeing the excitement on her face, Su Mowan couldn't help but overthink things.
"You're not planning to use this opportunity to do something, are you?"
"You don't need to worry about this sister-in-law."
The Seventh Princess kicked her leg. "You just said you wouldn't report me."
"..."
Su Mowan silently mourned for half a second for the person who was "on the mind" of the Seventh Princess, and then reminded him, "You can make a fuss, but you have to be careful not to cause trouble later."
"I know I know."
The seventh princess waved her hand dismissively.
Su Mowan felt that no matter how much trouble the Seventh Princess caused, at least no one would die, so she didn't interfere any further.
The closer you get to the Imperial Garden, the more you can hear hushed conversations.
It seems that officials from the imperial court have arrived.
The Imperial Garden was very large, square in shape, with a wide avenue in the middle that was just wide enough to accommodate the officials.
At the end of the avenue is a small set of steps, about half a meter higher than the avenue, with two seats on it.
This was naturally prepared for the Emperor and Empress.
At the closest point below the steps, on the left and right, stood two imperial concubines.
The officials sat in two rows.
Those closest to the steps were high-ranking ministers, and behind them sat their respective wives.
The more distant category consists of ministers of the third rank and below, who are only given single seats because their low rank does not allow them to bring their wives and children.
Of course, the imperial concubines were also divided into ranks. Only those of the rank of concubine or above could sit at the front, while the rest could only sit at the back.
The unmarried princes and princesses, who had not yet been married or received titles, sat together, behind the two imperial concubines.
So as soon as the Seventh Princess went over, she slipped into the group of princes behind Consort Shen.
Su Mowan glanced around curiously and then realized why the Seventh Princess had gone there: Prince Jin, Murong Xuan, was sitting next to Consort Shen.
She remembered that the Seventh Princess had a fairly good opinion of Prince Jin.
Although the appointed time had not yet arrived, almost all the ministers had already gathered. Su Mowan looked up and easily spotted Murong Jing in the vast crowd.
They also saw Murong Jin.
The two sat on opposite sides of the avenue, facing each other. Next to Murong Jin sat Su Huayue, who was dressed in a peach-colored palace gown.
One was gentle and refined, the other stunningly beautiful.
They do look like a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
Su Mowan felt a cool gaze sweep over her, and when she turned around, she saw Murong Jing with a gloomy expression.
This person's expression was never good; the best expression he could muster was 'not bad'.
Su Mowan led Qinghe and Yinshuang over leisurely.
Su Huayue was positioned at the same level as Murong Jin, while Su Mowan was positioned slightly behind Murong Jing.
The seats behind Murong Jing were two, one on the left and one on the right. Needless to say, the other seat was definitely reserved for Shen Muyue.
Su Mowan approached, looked down at Murong Jing, and smiled.
"Your Highness, which side should I sit on?"
Murong Jing did not answer, but slightly tilted his chin to the left.
Okay, so this means she should sit on the left.
So Su Mowan bypassed Murong Jing and sat to his left and behind him, leaving the empty seat to his right and behind him for Shen Muyue.
Shen Muyue is quite bold; she hasn't shown up yet.
However, Su Mowan immediately understood when she glanced at Consort Shen. A seat had been temporarily added next to Consort Shen, and Shen Muyue was smiling happily beside her.
Therefore, Su Mowan automatically attributed Murong Jing's gloomy face to Shen Muyue.
She had just sat down when she noticed someone giving her a wink. She turned her head and met Murong Xuan's utterly shocked face.
The Seventh Princess, who was standing next to him, pointed at him and whispered something in Murong Xuan's ear, appearing very happy.
But it was clear that His Highness Prince Jin was not happy at all.
That once handsome face now looked incredibly comical, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape, as if he had seen something extraordinary.
Su Mowan felt that he might come over and scratch her face a couple of times in a little while.
Clearly, Murong Jing also noticed that his younger brother was staring at Su Mowan in disbelief, and he became somewhat displeased.
Prince Jin's dazed expression finally returned after Murong Jing's cold glance. He took a deep breath and said something to the Seventh Princess beside him.
Su Mowan saw the Seventh Princess nod and looked smug.
His Highness Prince Jin's expression turned even more unpleasant.
It's more frustrating than swallowing a fly.
"Do you know the Prince of Jin?"
Murong Jing stared straight at Murong Xuan without turning around and asked.
Su Mowan couldn't see his expression, so she could only smile faintly and say truthfully, "I've met him a few times, at the Wan Hua Lou."
Only after saying this did Su Mowan belatedly realize that she had made a mistake, accidentally letting slip that she had been to the Wan Hua Lou (a brothel) many times.
Fortunately, Murong Jing's attention seemed to be not on "several times", but on "having seen".
"What grudge do you have against the Prince of Jin?"
That's a serious statement.
Su Mowan smiled easily: "What grudge could there be? I'm the kind of person who's always kind to others."
"..."
Murong Jing was silent for a moment: "Then why did he look at you like that?"
That look...
Su Mowan was very fortunate that Murong Jing interpreted 'that look' as 'having a grudge' rather than 'having an affair'.
“When His Highness Prince Jin met me before, I was wearing men’s clothing, so he might have been surprised.”
His Highness the King of Qin believed this explanation completely.
"I have said before, do not dress like that unless necessary. What kind of decorum is this?"
Su Mowan nodded perfunctorily where he couldn't see her, and then made a perfunctory promise: "There definitely won't be a next time."
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Mowan noticed another gaze.
She tilted her head slightly and saw...
The expression on Prince Jin's face just now almost repeated itself on her face!
Sitting a zhang below Murong Jing were the Left Prime Minister's family. The gaze directed at her came from directly opposite the Left Prime Minister.
The left-facing side is the right-facing side.
Su Mowan narrowed her eyes.
Shangguan Qingqi, the son of the Right Chancellor!