In large households, unsavory affairs usually occur in the inner quarters, a fact acknowledged by many. For instance, setting traps to climb the social ladder, with ans constantly evolving. So girls with ambitions higher than the sky but fates as fragile as paper, in pursuit of a bright future, do not hesitate to gamble with their reputations.
Just like the current banquet at the Song Mansion.
This is also an opportunity for so young ladies to ’advance’.
The arrival of the princes and noble gentlen is not sothing you can conceal easily. There are always those with keen interest who can find out, or at least surmise, so when opportunity knocks, do you seize it or not?
Of course you seize it, becoming a concubine to a prince is after all a highly prestigious position.
As such, at the moon gate leading to the male guests’ banquet, two young ladies were discreetly intercepted by servants (Hidden Guards). Without needing to say much, the servant rely ntioned it was a place for gentlen, and the young lady had to retreat obediently without uttering a word.
After all, making contact is one thing, but drawing attention before even making contact is a reckless move.
Similarly, a few young gentlen were intercepted, on the pretext of needing to sober up, they were guided to the appropriate area, not a gathering place for young ladies.
This left these groups of people secretly stomping their feet in anger. The Song Minister’s Mansion is truly like an impenetrable iron fortress, with no loopholes to exploit, making it hard to break through.
Even a few princes could relate to this, with tails trailing behind them, is it not to guard against them?
The Second Prince, Chu Hongkun, felt as if his heart was being scratched by a cat’s paw, both sour and itchy, causing him to stop and look at the person behind him.
"Third Prince Song, I can wander by myself. You needn’t accompany ."
Song Lingzhao grinned: "A guest is a guest, not to ntion the Second Prince is a noble guest. How could we let you roam the mansion alone? If outsiders knew, wouldn’t they laugh at our lack of etiquette in the Pri Minister’s Mansion? Please, go as you wish, pretend I’m not here, I’ll listen from afar to your instructions. Ah, don’t go through that door, I hear my grandmother is there watching a play with a group of won."
Chu Hongkun: "..."
He sighed bitterly at the courtyard.
His own matrimonial affairs, even Consort Mother wouldn’t be diligent in choosing for him. With his background, to stand out he could only hope for a powerful marital family, the Song Minister’s Mansion...
Chu Hongkun glanced towards the direction of the inner courtyard, his gaze deep.
Sigh.
Elsewhere, the Third Prince Shen Ming of Marquis Yongping’s Mansion managed to finally shake off the small tail Chu Lingjie, along with the Fourth Prince, Chu Hongqing, as they arrived at a small hill on the back mountain.
"Fourth Prince, see over there, the Water Pavilion by the Moon Lake, that’s where the noble ladies gather. If you take this small path down, you’ll get over there," Shen Ming said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
Chu Hongqing asked, "Is Second Miss Song there as well?"
"Of course she is. You know, the Pri Minister’s Mansion only has three young ladies in total. The eldest is married, the second is at the pri age, and the third is only eight. She must be hosting those noble ladies."
Chu Hongqing felt a rush of excitent: "Let’s go."
He had to ensure that the Second Miss saw him.
As the two made their way along the path and were about to exit the rock garden, a person erged.
"Hey, Fourth Prince, Third Young Master Shen, are you lost? I told you, the Pri Minister’s Mansion is large. It’s easy to get lost without a guide. Look, wasn’t I right?" Song Lingjie said with a cheerful wave. "Co with , I’ll take you back."
Chu Hongqing: "..."
Shen Ming: "!"
The hell with you taking us back, who needs you to lead the way!
Elsewhere, Chu Hongzheng listened to the words whispered by his attendant and couldn’t help but sneer: "Fools, each and every one, thinking the Pri Minister’s Mansion is so easy to navigate?"
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