Chapter 79 Part 3:

Seeing Jiang Li had her attention on Shen Ruyun, Liu Xu was puzzled: “Do you have any problem with her? Before you came, Shen Ruyun brought up the matter of Jiang You Yao robbing your marriage with Zhou Yan Bang. Wasn’t that creating trouble using you as a raft? Where did you commit offense to her?”

“I’ve never offended her.” Jiang Li shook her head. She was clear in her heart, the reason why Shen Ruyun used this matter was, naturally, on account of Zhou Yan Bang. Others didn’t know, but she, as the elder sister-in-law, found out that Shen Ruyun had greatly admired Zhou Yan Bang for many years. Nowadays, with great difficulty, she could have the confidence to discuss marriage with Zhou Yan Bang, yet she was preceded by Jiang You Yao. How would her heart not be angry?

Perhaps she even hated herself too. If it were not due to the former marriage agreement between Jiang second miss and Zhou Yan Bang, how could Jiang third miss occupy the magpie’s nest and set Zhou Yan Bang since earlier.

historical

Jiang Li thought to herself, how would Shen Ruyun react if she knew that her own sister-in-law hindered her marriage? Thinking of this, she couldn’t help feeling funny.

Jiang Li’s smile fell into Shen Ruyun’s eyes and she found it even more offensive. Moreover, Shen Ruyun always felt that Jiang Li’s demeanor seemed very familiar. However, Shen Ruyun was sure that this was the first time that she saw Jiang Li. This feeling of familiarity made Shen Ruyun feel not particularly pleasant. She snorted and turned her head, no longer looking at Jiang Li.

After chatting and laughing for a while, a palace maid came from outside to announce the arrival of the Empress Dowager.

All the ladies got up at the same time to greet the Empress Dowager.

The current Empress Dowager was not Hong Xiao Emperor’s birth mother. She had a benevolent temper and frequently made merits by paying respects to Buddha and disregarding the affairs of the world. Precisely due to this, at that time, Xia guifei and Liu shufei contended in the harem. In addition, there’s a rumor that the empress was childless and her position as the empress could not be kept. But afterwards, Xia guifei’s health wasn’t good and she passed away early. Then Hong Xiao Emperor was raised under the Empress Dowager’s knee. The late Emperor intended to support Hong Xiao Emperor to be the crown prince and only then Liu shufei restrained herself a bit..

Afterwards, the late Emperor passed away, the empress became the Empress Dowager and Liu shufei became Liu taifei. Liu taifei’s son and daughter was precisely the current Cheng Wang and Princess Yongning. Cheng Wang was a bit older than Hong Xiao Emperor thus the force supporting Cheng Wang was restless. The road for Hong Xiao Emperor to sit in the emperor seat was not smooth at all.

This was also why one third of the people in the current court were respectful towards Cheng Wang.

Hong Xiao Emperor didn’t have support from any outer relatives. What he had was just his own, but those supporting him weren’t many. Perhaps one day, this royal seat had to be handed over, what Cheng Wang possessed seemed to be much more than Hong Xiao Emperor.

The Empress Dowager wore a dark purple gold satin palace dress and cloud crown. To speak, the Empress Dowager was also advanced in age, but probably due to good maintenance, standing beside the Empress, she didn’t seem that much older. It could be seen that she was charming when young. Her lips carried a smile and she looked very amiable.

Following immediately behind the Empress Dowager was Cheng Wang’s consort mother, Liu taifei. Standing together with the Empress Dowager, Liu taifei appeared much older. Despite this, it didn’t affect her disposition. She actually wore bright colored clothes and her haughty looks was precisely the same as Princess Yongning.

The moment Jiang Li saw Princess Yongning, her blood instantly turned cold.

Princess Yongning was dressed from head to foot in a gold picked muslin with brilliant lights and vibrant colors. That thin piece of clothes was precisely made from the blood of countless weaving girls. She was also a delicate flower. Comparing her with Jiang You Yao’s girly tenderness, Princess Yongning was much more charming. Standing in the middle of the hall, she had the posture of the heaven’s arrogant female, aloof and remote, not paying attention to anybody.

It’s rumored that Liu taifei was proud and the Empress Dowager didn’t want to bicker with her. In the entire harem, Liu taifei practically had the final say. Hong Xiao Emperor’s power was weak, no need to even mention the Empress. As a result, nobody dared to refute whatever Princess Yongning said.

When the Empress Dowager saw everyone get up, she smiled and told them not to stand on ceremony and told everyone to sit down. Soon the palace feast began.

Jiang Li saw Princess Yongning glanced left and right as if searching for someone and she sneered in her heart. Princess Yongning being like this was certainly looking for Shen Yurong.

Contrary to what one might expect, she treated Shen Yurong with clear adoration.

The womenfolk came early, and the feast was held in Yu Ming Hall. There’s a long flower pond pavilion outside of Yu Ming Hall. After the night feast, one could admire the full moon and the flowers, very sophisticated.

After a while, the male counterparts also came in succession.

Males and females did not sit at the same table, but still in the same hall. Northern Yan was not like the previous dynasty, in the case of a public place with numerous people, the females did not need to evade when seeing males. However, in the end they were still a bit embarrassed, some thin-skinned young ladies would turn their body around to hide and save the embarrassment.

Jiang Yuan Bai followed by Jiang Yuan Ping; the two brothers walked in together. Due to the not-so-close relationship with the two brothers, Jiang Yuan Xing looked a bit awkward.

Jiang Li saw Ye Shijie. Ye Shijie amazed the world with a single brilliant feat and was bound to soon enter officialdom. Some noble young sons used the opportunity to make friends with him. There were many people walking by his side, Ye Shijie seemed to interact with them pretty well.

Jiang Li breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.