sjar Chapter 341 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Chapter 341 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi made a ruckus in the carriage the whole way. When they were almost at the Marquis's residence, the two of them quickly got up and straightened their clothes.
By the time the two finally returned to the courtyard, it was almost time for dinner.
They ate quite a bit at the Lin family's house at noon, so neither of them was very hungry in the evening.
Su Jinyue asked the cook to make some small wontons, just a little bit of soupy food would do.
Shen Huaizhi's health gradually improved, and he was able to eat other things besides medicinal diets.
Dinner was not yet ready when the old nanny who served Lady Hou suddenly arrived.
The old woman bowed to the two of them and said directly, "Young Master, Young Madam, Madam has sent me to deliver a message. The Grand Princess Ning'an has sent an invitation to the Marquis's residence, inviting the women of the family to attend the flower viewing banquet tomorrow. They must leave at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow. I hope the Young Madam will not be late."
Su Jinyue was a little puzzled. Chenshi (7-9 AM) was probably 8 AM the next morning. If it was in such a hurry, why did they only come to inform her so late?
Su Jinyue couldn't help but glance at Shen Huaizhi. She hadn't attended many banquets. Was that normal?
Shen Huaizhi also felt that things were too rushed, so he asked, "Was the invitation from the Princess's residence sent out late? Why did it take so long to inform you?"
Upon hearing Shen Huaizhi's words, the nanny who came to deliver the message looked embarrassed and stammered, unsure of what to say.
How could she explain that the Lady of the Marquis had received the invitation several days ago and had been preparing for the banquet, only remembering on the last day that there was a young mistress in the household, and that's why she sent her to deliver the message.
The old woman really didn't know how to explain, so she claimed that she had only come to deliver a message and knew nothing else.
Seeing the old woman's expression, Su Jinyue knew she wouldn't get any information out of her, so she dismissed her.
Since Lady Hou has sent someone to inform us, it means we have to go. We'll find out what happens tomorrow anyway.
Su Jinyue didn't take it seriously. She knew that Princess Ning'an's flower-viewing banquet was mainly for unmarried men and women of marriageable age to meet.
As a married woman from a noble family, she was completely ignored.
Su Jinyue thought about it and let it go, but Shen Huaizhi took it to heart. He called his page, Ping An, gave him a few instructions, and then sent him off to do his work.
After the two had finished their dinner and were washing up, Shen Huaizhi's attendant, Xi Yan, came to report.
Su Jinyue also knew that Shen Huaizhi had sent someone to the Marquis's residence to inquire about things. He had lived in the Marquis's residence for more than ten years, so it was easier for him to gather information than for Su Jinyue.
After Xi Yan finished speaking to Shen Huaizhi in a low voice, Shen Huaizhi waved for him to leave first. But Su Jinyue noticed that Shen Huaizhi seemed unhappy at the moment.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with tomorrow's flower viewing banquet?"
Su Jinyue sat down next to Shen Huaizhi and asked with great interest.
Shen Huaizhi sighed and began to explain to Su Jinyue.
There's no problem with tomorrow's flower viewing banquet; the problem lies with the people in the Marquis's residence!
Princess Ning'an is the current emperor's aunt, but she is about the same age as the emperor, not yet fifty, and she likes to see the youthful and lively appearance of young people.
Therefore, the flower-viewing banquet of the Grand Princess Ning'an has a long history and is held almost every year.
Since this is already a routine procedure, there is no possibility of errors in distributing posts.
Moreover, the granddaughter of the Grand Princess Ning'an had just married into the Marquis of Xuanping's household this year, so the people of the Grand Princess's household naturally couldn't afford to neglect the Marquis's household.
The invitation to the flower viewing banquet was received by the Marquis's residence three days ago. The Marquis's eldest daughter, Shen Yuxi, has just turned 15 and will soon be of marriageable age. After that, she will be looking for a husband, so the flower viewing banquet is just in time.
Shen Yuxi has two younger sisters born out of wedlock, one 14 and the other 13. They are not young anymore, so the Lady of the Marquis thought of taking them to the flower viewing banquet. There are many wives of the clan and quite a few young people at the banquet, and perhaps one of them will catch the eye.
Since it was a banquet hosted by the Grand Princess Ning'an, Mei Zhixu, the second young mistress of the Marquis's mansion, could not be left out. In the days since receiving the invitation, the Marquis's wife had been instructing Shen Yuxi on various banquet etiquette, as well as all the clothing and jewelry, striving to make her daughter stand out at the banquet and hopefully achieve the effect of having a daughter that attracts many suitors!
When Lady Hou finally felt that everything was in order, she was reminded by the nanny beside her that there was an eldest daughter-in-law in the mansion. Since the invitation mentioned that she was a female member of the household, Lady Hou was also planning to go with her daughter and daughter-in-law. It would not be good to leave the eldest daughter-in-law, who was getting married on the same day as Mei Zhixu, alone.
That's why the nanny came late at night to tell Su Jinyue to remember to attend the banquet the next day.
When Su Jinyue learned the reason for the incident, she suddenly realized that she had been wondering why the princess's residence would be so rude; it turned out that the marquis's residence had forgotten to inform her.
Shen Huaizhi was very unhappy about this. He was an illegitimate son and in poor health. He was used to being neglected by the Marquis's mansion, and he had gotten used to it.
However, as his wife, Su Jinyue was also ignored and treated coldly by the people of the Marquis's mansion, which Shen Huaizhi felt was too unfair to Su Jinyue!
However, Shen Huaizhi, the eldest son of a concubine in the Marquis's mansion, had no talent that the mansion would value. Su Jinyue was his wife and naturally a part of him. If he was not valued, Su Jinyue would be even less valued.
Shen Huaizhi felt a deep sorrow and guilt towards Su Jinyue!
"I'm sorry, it's my incompetence that has caused the manor to ignore you so much."
Su Jinyue took Shen Huaizhi's hand, shook her head, and said to Shen Huaizhi, "I don't think you're incompetent. You're very good. It's just that the Marquis's mansion has always been prejudiced against you."
In truth, I don't care at all whether the Marquis's mansion is good or bad, or whether it values me or not!
I wish the Marquis's mansion would completely forget about us, or even separate us out altogether. I just want to live our peaceful lives without anyone disturbing us.
Shen Huaizhi smiled and thought, "With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"
Unexpectedly, Su Jinyue's wish was so small. She didn't ask for wealth and glory, but only for the two of them to live a smooth life. Shen Huaizhi held Su Jinyue's hand tightly, as if making a promise or a vow.
Yes, it will happen! That day will come!
The next morning, Su Jinyue got ready and went out with Chuncao.
Su Jinyue is just an extra at today's flower viewing party. She only needs to dress decently and doesn't want to make any mistakes.
The Marquis's residence went to attend the banquet today, and three carriages were dispatched just for the master.
The Hou Madam and her legitimate daughter Shen Yuxi rode in one car, the Second Young Madam rode in another, and Su Jinyue and her two illegitimate daughters rode in yet another.
Su Jinyue wasn't familiar with the two illegitimate daughters. After getting into the carriage, she gave them a perfunctory smile and sat down, completely oblivious to their strange looks.
Su Jinyue knew what they were thinking. Logically, married women should ride in the same carriage, but whether it was because the second young mistress was too proud to sit with her, or because the servants arranged it to please their future mistress, Su Jinyue ended up in the last carriage.