Chapter 213: Stand in Line

In Southern Qi's custom, wives are taken in the evening, concubines at noon.

Today, the third prince Xiao Wei is raising a mysterious lady from the Rui Wangfu, and this lady had previously been promised to General Zhao Lang, and also involves Xiao Yin of the Rui Wangfu.

What a mess! It's a tremendously huge drama!

Therefore everyone wanted to come see the liveliness, and the already magnificent Third Prince's Residence became lively to the extreme.

One part consists of Consort Duan's people and the aristocratic families closely tied to the Duan family; they came because Xiao Wei is formally bringing a woman into his residence for the first time.

Although Xiao Wei is not lacking women, Su Wanrou is the first woman he formally brought in, originally intended to disgust Xiao Yin, and moreover, to please him, this woman is truly base in nature, willing to cooperate in any act.

But these days Xiao Wei has grown tired of sleeping with her; unexpectedly, this fierce woman Su Wanrou even let her maid Hongyu accompany him, engaging in several threesomes.

Xiao Wei saw that Hongyu was actually somewhat more beautiful than Su Wanrou, but she was mute; at first he found it interesting, later it became boring, and casually raising her rank changed nothing.

No matter how Hongyu's rank is raised, it cannot surpass that of a concubine; at most she is a bedchamber maid, only slightly higher than an ordinary maid.

To disgust Xiao Yin and vent his anger, Xiao Wei made this occasion especially grand, just to let everyone under heaven know that he, Xiao Wei, had slept with the sister Xiao Yin treasured like a jewel.

Hehe! He could hardly wait to see Xiao Yin's expression.

He worried Xiao Yin might not come, so he specially sent his confidant to the Rui Wangfu, repeatedly sending three invitations to ask Xiao Yin to attend the banquet.

If he doesn't come, he's a coward; how will military personnel view him thereafter?

If he does come, he will surely humiliate him thoroughly to vent his anger.

Setting the trap in Wuzhou this time is truly unlucky; how could we let that big-bellied Gu Jiu Ling borrow troops?

Besides that little bastard Cheng Ming and that neutered thing Lin Ru Jun, plus a few fearless commanders of the Imperial Guard stepping forward, the rest of that greatest force, he actually could not find out their details, which made him feel somewhat stifled.

Who else is helping Xiao Yin, and why does it feel as if the whole heaven is aiding that good-for-nothing?

Back then, his mother consort and maternal uncle contacted other aristocratic families in Shang Jing, set up a trap together, and with the added push from Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Ning'an, they managed to crush Xiao Yin's arrogance.

Now it's good, letting him step by step climb back up—no, absolutely cannot let him climb back up, absolutely not!

Besides those currying favor with Consort Duan, the rest are just fence-sitters, constantly watching, striving to offend no one.

Nowadays they simply come with the posture of watching the show, wanting to see how this drama unfolds so they can later place bets and hedge.

Such a struggle among the imperial family, not following is impossible, following the wrong person is even worse—it's a matter of life and death.

There is also the final part, the idle aristocrats of Shang Jing, purely here to watch the show.

The number of people coming is truly too many; even some families who don't know this person associated with the Third Prince's Residence actively bring gifts, bearing the names of imperial relatives from several generations, just to come see the excitement.

As a result, when the master Xiao Yin's carriage from the Rui Wangfu rushed over, he was actually faced with a crowded throng, unable to reach the gate of the Third Prince's Residence.

Ling Feng got off the carriage, squeezed in, and shortly after, the guards of the Third Prince's Residence cleared this lane, allowing Xiao Yin's carriage to barely stop at the gate.

Everyone fell silent, staring fixedly at the Rui Wangfu's carriage.

The carriage is very splendid and spacious; the key point is not here, but behind the Rui Wangfu's carriage follows another similarly low-key luxurious carriage, only somewhat smaller in scale.

When the carriage curtain was lifted, a tall, slender woman with an extremely light gait stepped down from above.

That woman's face was tightly covered, wearing a gauze cap that directly concealed her eyes, so the people around could not see her appearance; precisely because they could not see, curiosity grew, and for a moment the noisy crowd fell silent, all turning their gaze to her.

Although Jinzhi's face was covered, she was still nervous to death; over such a short distance of a few steps, she felt as if she had walked for a hundred years.

She respectfully stood before the front carriage, personally lifted its curtain, and helped Gu Jiu Ling step down from the carriage by stepping on a stool.

This is puzzling; looking at her, she seems more like a maid, yet which maid could ride such a fine carriage, even sit equal to the master?

Moreover, although her attire is somewhat plain, the fabric is the most expensive from Shang Jing—Shu brocade!

A bolt of Shu brocade is hard to buy even with a thousand gold!

Xiao Yin also got off the carriage and steadied Gu Jiu Ling; Jinzhi knew her place, properly following behind Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling to the side, her bearing proper and dignified.

Although those people could not see the woman's face, they felt that just looking at her figure she resembled a lady from a prominent family.

Xiao Yin led the household ladies toward the flower hall where the banquet was set; Xiao Wei is truly arrogant, clearly knowing that the Ninth Imperial Uncle had already arrived, yet upon reaching the main gate he did not personally come out to greet, only sending a steward to show the way.

Xiao Yin didn't mind; it seemed he wasn't giving face, but after a while he would see how Xiao Wei would cry.

Gu Jiu Ling followed at Xiao Yin's side, bringing Jinzhi, and walked straight into the flower hall.

The flower hall was already full to capacity; Xiao Yin deliberately chose to arrive late at this juncture, so that after his late arrival the guests in the flower hall would be at their most numerous, and the splendid play he had prepared for Xiao Wei could then begin in full swing.

No rush; if one act isn't enough, sing several more.

In the end we'll surely sing it into Xiao Wei's heart!

Because Xiao Wei raised a concubine, even those of the imperial family with a bit of stature came, and Consort Duan also bestowed many rewards.

Even Princess He is present; she is Xiao Wei's imperial aunt, so she naturally came.

But she seems more to have come for Xiao Yin, worried that tonight Xiao Wei's scheme would be unfavorable to Xiao Yin, so she stepped forward to help Xiao Yin bear some of it.

Xiao Yin gave a complex glance at the imperial sister before him; previously, because Gu Jiu Ling treated Cheng Ming, the two families had been unpleasant, and this time she was dragged into trouble by her family's foolish boy, leaving her no choice but to side with Xiao Yin.

She is also a decisive and ruthless strongwoman; having decided to side with Xiao Yin in this contest, she harbors no other thoughts, simply to stand with Xiao Yin.

"Ninth Imperial Uncle! You being able to attend my nephew's wedding feast, I am truly deeply grateful!"

"Come! Wanrou! Offer wine to the Imperial Uncle!" Xiao Wei suddenly grabbed Su Wanrou, who wanted to hide behind him, pulled her out, and pushed her before Xiao Yin.