amaotonovel Chapter 386 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Chapter 386 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
On the day of the birthday banquet, Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi were relatively close to the palace, so there was no need to rush.
The clothes they wore to the banquet were prepared in advance by Xinghe Imperial City. Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi both chose the most understated style, which, although the most low-key, still exuded luxury and nobility.
However, Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi could not bear to disappoint Emperor Xinghe's loving fatherly heart, so they kept their jewelry and attire as simple as possible to avoid attracting attention.
When Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi arrived at the palace gate, it was neither too early nor too late. There were many dignitaries attending the banquet today, so their arrival at this time did not attract much attention.
But Su Jinyue and Shen Huai's arrival was truly unfortunate; they had just gotten off their carriage when the carriage from the Xuanping Marquis's residence arrived.
Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat helpless. Since they had run into each other, there was no reason to ignore it.
They had anticipated encountering people from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, but they hadn't expected to meet them so soon.
The people who stepped out of the carriage were Lady Xuanping, her daughter-in-law Mei Zhixu, and her own daughter Shen Yuxi.
Not long after Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi left the Xuanping Marquis's residence, Marquis Shen submitted a memorial requesting that his eldest son, Shen Yichen, be granted the title of heir apparent.
So Shen Yichen also came to Emperor Xinghe's birthday banquet, but he came on horseback, following behind the carriage of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence.
Lady Xuanping got off the carriage and saw Shen Huaizhi and Su Jinyue standing to one side. She couldn't help but frown.
Upon approaching, seeing Shen Huaizhi and Su Jinyue's attire, his expression grew even more displeased.
"Why are you all here? This is His Majesty's birthday banquet, not just anyone can come. You should go back right now and not embarrass yourselves here!"
"..." Su Jinyue did not expect that the Lady of Xuanping Marquis would start by scolding her without even asking any questions.
Shen Huaizhi frowned, then quickly relaxed his brow. He bowed respectfully to the Lady of Xuanping Marquis and replied.
"Madam, I came to the birthday banquet because I received an invitation."
Shen Huaizhi didn't want to explain too much, as he was invited to the birthday banquet by Emperor Xinghe himself, so he deliberately obscured the source of the invitation.
However, Lady Xuanping misunderstood this explanation, thinking that Shen Huaizhi's arrival was due to Lord Shen's arrangement.
Lady Xuanping was somewhat angry. She had been happy that her son had become the heir apparent of Xuanping Marquis, but then Marquis Shen promoted his eldest son by a concubine to get in her way.
At this moment, she really wanted to make a scene without a care in the world, but she couldn't. This was at the palace gates, and she still had to save face.
At this moment, people coming and going at the palace gate were attending the birthday banquet. Lady Xuanping knew that Shen Huaizhi and his wife would not listen to her and obediently go back.
She could only lower her voice and warn the two men: "The Marquis is on your side!"
Listen up, this is the palace. Even if you go inside, be careful what you say and do, and don't cause any trouble.
And don't cause any trouble for the Marquis's mansion, otherwise, it won't be as simple as just separating you out. You'd better watch yourselves!
After warning the two, Lady Xuanping turned and left with the Marquis of Xuanping's heir, his wife, and Shen Yuxi.
Su Jinyue was completely confused. What was Lady Xuanping imagining?
Did she think that their attendance at the birthday banquet was thanks to Lord Shen?
Su Jinyue was both amused and exasperated.
Shen Huaizhi shook his head. Seeing that Lady Xuanping and the others had already gone far away, he pulled Su Jinyue into the palace as well.
Knowing that Shen Huaizhi and Su Jinyue were coming, Xia Yuzhong specially arranged for a young eunuch to wait at the palace gate. When the two arrived, he led them to the main hall where the birthday banquet was being held.
Because Shen Huaizhi's apparent status was too low, their positions could not be too conspicuous. In the end, the eunuch led them to the inner side of the main hall, close to Emperor Xinghe, but three or four rows behind the seats of the officials.
Su Jinyue was very satisfied with this position. It was inconspicuous, but close to Emperor Xinghe, and allowed her to secretly observe the actions of everyone in the hall.
Su Jinyue also saw her nominal father, Su Fanglin, who was a minor official of the fifth rank, even lower than Su Jinyue herself.
Seeing Su Fanglin and her stepmother being so subservient, smiling obsequiously, and fawning over each other, yet still being looked down upon, Su Jinyue was quite satisfied.
Su Fanglin went to great lengths to marry off his two daughters, but they brought him no help whatsoever.
On the very day Su Jinlan married into General Ye's mansion, the Ye family was raided and exiled. Su Fanglin wanted to cut his losses, but Su Jinlan insisted on marrying him.
A few days ago, Su Jinyue checked on Su Jinlan's situation at the border. They had already arrived at the place of exile, but the relationship between Su Jinlan and Ye Jiazhou was very strained. Su Jinlan was eager to please, but Ye Jiazhou didn't appreciate it at all.
Su Jinyue married into the Xuanping Marquis's mansion. Although she only married a son of a concubine, it was still considered a step up into the Xuanping Marquis's family.
But to everyone's surprise, not long after Su Jinyue married into the family, this illegitimate son was separated from the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and did not receive any family property. In the end, he even lived on a manor in the suburbs!
Knowing that Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi had moved out of the Marquis's residence, Su Fanglin never contacted Su Jinyue again, and of course, Su Jinyue wouldn't pay any attention to him either.
As for the business dealings of Su Jinyue and Feng Enchi and other playboys, Su Fanglin, a mere fifth-rank official, had no way of knowing about them.
Su Jinyue stroked her chin and suddenly thought that if Shen Huaizhi's true identity were exposed, Su Fanglin would probably try to climb up to him. Should she think of a way to stop him?
Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi arrived early and didn't know anyone, so the eunuchs quietly served them a lot of tea and snacks. Su Jinyue started eating whenever she had free time, and to be honest, the palace snacks tasted pretty good.
But Su Jinyue ate and drank too much, which created a new problem: she needed to use the restroom.
Shen Huaizhi was worried that it wouldn't be safe for Su Jinyue to go alone, so he decided that the two of them would go together.
Find that little eunuch and have him take you to change your clothes.
After Su Jinyue went inside, Shen Huaizhi waited for her not far away outside.
As fate would have it, Shen Yuxi and her girlfriends also came to change clothes.
Shen Yuxi frowned when she saw Shen Huaizhi standing next to the changing room. Women were the ones coming and going here, so why was he standing here?
Thinking of this, Shen Yuxi walked up to Shen Huaizhi and said disapprovingly, "Hey, what are you doing here? This isn't a place for you, get out of here!"
Shen Huaizhi frowned, looking displeased, but still explained, "I'm waiting for my wife."
Furthermore, Shen Yuxi, no matter what, I am still your elder brother. You cannot disrespect your elder brother and reprimand him arbitrarily. Is this the upbringing of a legitimate daughter of a marquis's family?
Shen Yuxi's face turned red as Shen Huaizhi scolded her. She had looked down on Shen Huaizhi, the eldest son of a concubine, since she was a child. It was because of his existence that her mother had lost face and that there was a rift between her parents.