Chapter 78 Attending the Birthday Banquet

Chapter 78 Attending the Birthday Banquet

Seeing Xie Yan's expression, Shen Nanzi knew she had guessed correctly and was overjoyed.

When Xie Yan's eyes met the gloating expression on her face, his chest tightened again; she really knew how to anger him.

"Can you stop overthinking?"

"My brain is my own, I can think whatever I want, it's your fault for being so sneaky lately."

Xie Yan gritted her teeth: "Shen Nanzi, who's been sneaking around like that?"

"You!"

"How was I acting suspiciously?"

Shen Nanzi deliberately provoked him, "You stand on my way back every day, what else could it be but sneaking around?"

Xie Yan's face turned red and then pale, and he angrily shook off her arm.

He didn't want to say it, but ever since he discovered that there were several other pairs of eyes around her that were eyeing her, he had felt inexplicably worried.

He couldn't very well have Shi Tou monitor her every day, so he could only wander around the Prince Jing's residence.

As luck would have it, she saw it every time.

"This is my residence. I can go wherever I want. I can even come and go as I please in your room."

Shen Nanzi looked at the released arm, a sly smile in her eyes.

Xie Yan is easily angered; a few words from her can make him act like a child, agreeing with her every word.

"Very well! You may go now!"

After speaking, Shen Nanzi left immediately.

By the time Xie Yan came to her senses, she had already gone quite far.

Looking at her back and her yard.

How long has it been since she last had someone invite him to her yard?

Whenever he was in Luoyang, he would rest in her courtyard on the first day of every month.

Xie Yan looked at the road beneath his feet; this was once the road he hated walking the most.

Now, however, it has left him with mixed feelings.

Thinking about the future, they...

His fingers were curled, his jawline was taut, and he turned away with a forlorn look on his face.

It turns out that hurting someone who truly cares for him can be so painful.

*

In Luoyang, older people all like to celebrate their birthdays every ten years.

The older one gets, the more elaborate the celebrations become, as it is believed that this can extend one's lifespan.

Therefore, whether it was commoners or royalty, the most common type of banquet was the birthday banquet.

The host cannot be careless, and other guests cannot be absent either, otherwise the birthday celebrant will be upset.

The more lively the celebration, the happier the birthday person will be, and it also reflects the family's prestige.

Marquis Pingyang is Consort Wei's brother from her maternal family. Now that the position of Empress is vacant, Consort Wei is the true Empress.

On the occasion of the Marquis of Pingyang's sixtieth birthday, guests naturally flocked to him in an endless stream.

Xie Yan was waiting for Shen Nanzi to come to the Jingwang Mansion, but the coachman said that she had left with Cheng'er early in the morning.

They didn't say where they went.

He thought she should have already arrived at the Marquis of Pingyang's residence, but he looked for carriages along the way and didn't see her.

Where did she go?

Xie Yan had already circled the gate of the Marquis of Pingyang's residence several times, and even Wu Ying couldn't bear to watch anymore.

He looked at his prince with concern, wondering when his prince had started to act strangely.

In the past, after court, he would first go to the Pear Courtyard and wait until it was completely dark before reluctantly returning to the Prince Jing's residence.

I couldn't wait to leave again in the morning.

The Prince Jing's Mansion was purely a place to sleep.

I'll still go to the Pear Garden during this time, but I'll stay for shorter periods.

Even after returning to the Prince Jing's residence, he didn't stay in the courtyard; and without a glance, he vanished without a trace.

When he finally found His Highness, he was wandering around in the east.

Wuying had no women and didn't understand these things; he just felt that his prince had gone mad!

Today he realized that his prince seemed to be looking for the Princess Consort of Jing.

Something must have happened. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in such a hurry.

So she advised, "Your Highness, perhaps Princess Jing has already gone in. Why don't you go in and take a look?"

Xie Yan shook her head. "She brought Cheng'er with her, and the weather is bad today, so she must have come by carriage."

"There is no carriage for her here."

This was the first time Wuying had ever seen his prince so stubborn.

Thinking it must be something important, he volunteered.

"It's getting late, Your Highness. You should go inside. I'll wait here. Once I see Princess Jing, I'll have her come to you immediately."

Xie Yan: "Go to the Marquis's residence and ask. I'll wait outside."

Perhaps it was his own Highness, so Wuying had no choice but to obey the order and go to the Marquis's residence to look for him.

Xie Yan looked at the road in front of the Marquis of Pingyang's residence, and a sense of unease began to creep into his heart.

Where could a woman like her go, leaving early in the morning with Cheng'er?

Could it be that we've encountered danger?

Thinking of her appearance, the worry in my eyes deepened. Next time she goes out, I'll have to make her wear a veil.

With Lie Feng gone, what if we encounter a lecherous fellow?

She still needs a bodyguard by her side; he needs to find her a female bodyguard.

He grew impatient and scolded her for being so audacious as to take her young child out so casually.

Just as Xie Yan was wondering whether to send someone out to look for her, he saw her carriage slowly approaching.

Seeing her carriage, Xie Yan unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, thinking about how to subtly remind her of these things later.

He walked excitedly toward where she had parked her carriage, but before he got there, he saw Xie Yu's carriage following behind.

His eyes, which had been shining just moments before, suddenly turned cold, and he felt as if all the blood in his body rushed to the top of his head.

The noise around us faded away, leaving only the sound of the Sixth Prince's carriage wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs.

The rolling motions were driving him crazy.

He stared at the carriage, his throat tightening, and his palms sweating.

The joy I had just felt at her safe return was quickly replaced by a pang of inexplicable suspicion and resentment that made my chest ache.

A strange sour taste lingered in his mouth, making it impossible for him to even manage a smile.

Then, Shen Nanzi stepped down from her carriage.

She wore a fiery red dress embroidered with golden peonies, covered by a soft white veil.

Wearing crimson embroidered shoes inlaid with pearls, the large pearls swayed gently as she stepped off the carriage.

The dangling golden hairpin on her head complemented each other, creating a look that was beautiful yet elegant.

On the other side, Xie Yu's carriage came to a stop, and Xie Chengze was the first to pull back the curtain.

He was wearing a royal blue brocade robe with a dark pattern, the collar, cuffs and hem trimmed with narrow bright yellow edging.

He wore a matching sapphire blue jade belt around his waist, and Shen Nanzi also attached a jade safety buckle to it, making him look calm and noble.

But Xie Yu, who followed behind, made Xie Yan feel as if he had swallowed a red-hot iron bead, burning his throat, chest, and even his head.

He was dressed elegantly, his hair tied up with a golden crown, and he seemed to be in a strange harmony with Shen Nanzi.

Xie Chengze called out "Mother" in a clear voice, and then prepared to jump off the car, but Xie Yu grabbed him from behind.

Xie Chengze was both frightened and amused, his little face filled with shock and joy.

That was an innocent expression she had never shown in front of him before.

"Sixth Imperial Uncle, one more time," Xie Chengze pleaded.

Xie Yu tucked him under his arm and jumped off the carriage. "No, if we're prepared, the element of surprise won't work."

Shen Nanzi smiled and agreed, "Your sixth uncle is right, it's more fun to do things unexpectedly."

Xie Yu walked to Shen Nanzi's side and smiled at her.

That smile was clearly open and honest, but it was extremely irritating to Xie Yan.

It made him vomit acid.