Yuer felt embarrassed and quietly tugged at Peonys sleeve: "Young Madam, why dont you take a seat first? There are still many wonderful performances to come."

  "Oh." Peony turned around and swept the scene, only to discover that the seating arrangement was deliberate. The top three seats were empty, but behind them stood a group of attendants from Qinghua County, clearly set up for the highest-ranking Qinghua County Master. On the left sat Pan Rong and his wife, Madame Bai, with their beautiful and diligent concubines standing behind them. On the right was the hosts seat, originally meant for her and Liu Cheng, but occupied by Qinghua County Master.

  The two rows of seats below were male on the left and female on the right. Many female guests had arrived early and filled up the left side, although there were still empty seats on the mens side, she couldnt squeeze in. The place where she was standing, under a solitary Tung tree, didnt have any seating. She actually had nowhere to sit.

  At this moment, except for Liu Chong and Qinghua Junzhu, everyone elses gaze was on her. The music played by the familys musicians went out of tune, and the dancers steps were wrong. There was sympathy, schadenfreude, disdain, and simply watching the excitement in peoples eyes, but no one was willing to help her out of the situation. Pan Rong even raised his wine glass to toast her from afar, while Madame Bai frowned and glanced at Liu Chong and Qinghua Junzhu before lowering her head. Lin Mama had already made a soft sound, and Yu Hes heavy breathing due to anger echoed in everyones ears.

  Perhaps everyone thought that in this situation, she would be better off hiding. If she retreated today, how could she still have the face to come out again? Its just bullying her thin skin, what does it count for? Cant it suffocate people to death? Peony smiled faintly at the crowd and signaled Rain Lotus to spread out the golden brocade cloak she was holding onto under the Tung tree. She then sat down on it with a calm demeanor.

  She has the goods, cant sit on a humble seat, so sitting on brocade is fine. The taste of being opposite that scoundrel **** from afar isnt bad either, whats the main position? Shes standing out alone here, more like the main position. The green skirt dance steps are already messy, nothing left to see, Peony just sits there, raising her eyes to gaze at the crowd indifferently. The crowd looks at her, she also looks at the crowd, speaking of mental endurance, she asks herself its still not bad.

  Eerie silence.

  Everyone was watching Peony, looking at Liu Chuan and Qinghua County Master. Then, the whispers gradually rose. Although this dynasty is open-minded and its not uncommon for princesses and county masters to have male concubines in private, but this kind of blatant flirting in front of other peoples wives is really too much for men to bully, and women are also too shameless.

  Noticing something was off, the face of Qinghua Junzhu flashed with a hint of anger, and she pinched Liu Chengs waist fiercely: "This lady of yours is quite wealthy, isnt she? The golden brocade is dazzling. Shes also very cunning, what does she want to do? Why hasnt she left yet?"

  Liu Chongs eyes swept over Peony with a gloomy gaze, looking at the sugar and cheese mixed lychee cherries in the gold and silver coated bowl in front of him. He slowly picked up a cherry with his silver spoon and put it in his mouth, saying lightly: "She stares like this, everyone cant have fun. There are also people familiar with the He family inside, Im afraid that old scoundrel will come to reason tomorrow, how annoying."

  The mistress of Qinghua County raised the corner of her lips with a cold smile: "Sounds good, but its just that youre looking at her pretending to be pitiful and feeling sorry for her. Anyway, if she starts wailing in public, your face will also lose its light, Ill go first." After speaking, she got up and went to the upper seat, calling the handsome Hu costume youth to massage her legs, holding a cup of grape wine, staring at Peony with a deep gaze.

  Xià Xiǎo led Liu Chàngs orders, quickly walked to Mù Dāns side, bowed and said: "Young Madam, Young Master said its cool here, but the cloak is a bit thin. Youre not feeling well, its better to sit over there."

  She comes at your beck and goes at your call, it seems that the purpose of staying here is really just to compete with Qinghua County for a seat? Peony smiled slightly: "You go and tell Master Gongzi, this is the best place. If you take care of my weak body, please set up another seat for me."

  Xià Xià was reluctant to part with the peony, but she had no choice. She bowed and retreated, going to pass on Liu Chàngs words. Liu Chàng expressionlessly said: "If she likes it that way, then let her have it." Xià Xià took orders and immediately went to reset the seats for the peony.

  The seats were arranged, and Peony cast her eyes on the table, where she saw a silver plate with a golden deer pattern, filled with lamb-filled glutinous rice cakes, a gold-plated silver bowl containing cherries mixed with sugar and cream cheese, a glass cup holding grape wine, and a fine porcelain plate of white fish known as "soft Dingxue lantern".

  The tableware was exquisite, and the dishes were particular. Such a banquet was already high-end at that time, but Mudan himself was not interested in the strange taste of cherries mixed with sugar and cheese. Seeing Yuer staring at him with eager eyes, he handed her the bowl of cherries: "You all share it." He also gave the white fish to Xixia.

  Xià Miǎo kāi yǎn xiào de tǎo hǎo dào: "Shǎo fū rén, nǐ ruò shì bù xǐ huān chī zhèxiē, cuī hòu hái yǒu fēi dāo yuán yú, hái yǒu hún yáng méi hū."

  Translation:

  Xià Miǎo smiled and tried to please her by saying: "Young Madam, if you dont like eating these, later there will be flying knife sliced fish, also mixed mutton hasnt forgotten."

  Flying knife raw fish, in short, is eating raw fish slices. This mixed sheep didnt ignore, Peony however was unaware, and immediately said: "What did this mixed sheep say?"

  "This is a new method that has been passed down from the palace, where you first scald the goose to remove its feathers, then remove its internal organs. Next, fill the cavity of the goose with meat and glutinous rice, mix it well with five flavors, and then take another sheep, also removing its fleece and intestines. Put the goose inside the sheeps belly, sew it up, and roast it. Once the meat is cooked, you can eat the goose."

  "Peony sighed: Thats also too wasteful. But in her heart, she thought, Liu Chongs money is really not little, who knows how much advantage he has taken of the He family. When she and Liu parted ways, those dowries couldnt be reduced by a single cent for him. She asked Xi Xia again: When will we start admiring the flowers?"

  Xià Xiào said with a smile: "As for what Husband wants to say, we should wait until our guest has had enough wine and food, and is in high spirits before beginning."

  Tsinghua County Master saw Peony enjoying herself, feeling very displeased in her heart. With one palm, she pushed away the handsome young man and slanted her eyes at Liu Chong: "Is she competing with you? I remember that in the past, whenever she had a chance, she would follow behind you, crying and wiping away tears. Now shes become formidable, even seducing your attendants and servants."

  Liu Chang had not yet responded, and Madame Bai said lightly: "Perhaps shes timid and doesnt dare to come up. If she really is as easily made to cry as before, it wouldnt be interesting for everyone. This way is better." Then she raised her cup towards Qinghua Junzhu and said: "Qinghua, Ill toast you a cup."

  Mrs. Bai came from a prestigious family with a hundred years of history, and had a good reputation in the aristocratic circle in Beijing. The Duke of Qinghua didnt dare to underestimate her, no matter how cold she was to him usually. He said happily: "Mutual respect, mutual respect. You are absolutely right, although she is a usurper, its still not worth ruining everyones mood for her."

  Is the magpie occupying the nest of the cuckoo? Are you here to fulfill everyones expectations? Madame Bai smiled faintly, took a sip of grape wine, and stood up saying: "Every day is always sitting, its boring, Ill go for a walk."

  "Go ahead, whatever makes you happy."

  Madam Bai glanced at Peony and turned around with several maidservants following her to leave the banquet venue.

  The young lady of Qinghua County, with a sudden surge of intoxication, excitedly leaned towards Liu Chong and clapped her hands. Once she had everyones attention, she loudly declared: "Recently, this county main has acquired a huixianer (a type of spinning top), which spins very well. Let us take advantage of this opportunity to have some fun together."

  She wants to sell the trick, who dares not follow? The crowd naturally all echoed in unison. A green-clad maid took a small round mat and placed it on the grass in the middle, Qinghua Junzhu glared at the handsome young man and said: "Give me a good jump."

  "Please dont worry, Princess." The handsome young man flashed a smile, and his beauty was so stunning that it rivaled that of the women. After he stepped onto the round mat, at the sound of the strings and drums, he raised his sleeves and began to spin around, left and right, like the wind. He leaped and bounded about, his feet never leaving the mat, and occasionally he would even throw a flirtatious glance at the women in the audience.

  Everyone watched with bated breath, and they all cheered in unison. The young girls at the banquet blushed, and Qinghua Junzhu couldnt help but laugh with joy. Pan Rong patted the table repeatedly, exclaiming "Good!" Before she even finished speaking, a clear and crisp voice echoed from afar: "Good!" As she looked up, she caught sight of Mudans beaming face, and was taken aback.

  Even Yu He and Lin Mama were taken aback.

  Peony shouted out, only to realize that she had lost her composure, which was far from the true nature of He Mudan. Her heart was like a stormy sea, but her face remained unchanged. She excitedly said to Jade: "I usually dont attend these banquets, what a great loss! The dance is really too wonderful!"

  Yuer saw her face red and puffy, with sparkling eyes shining with excitement, and couldnt help but nod along: "Among the people Ive seen, this person is indeed the best dancer."

  "Whats the big deal? Its just a case of the guest stealing the show! Just you wait and see, Ill make him lose face!" Along with a disdainful smile, a young man in his early twenties, wearing a silver-white folded sleeve flower round collar robe, creased boots, and a long-legged Luo headscarf, walked over.

  As soon as Peony saw this person, the hanging heart finally fell down safely. She immediately winked at Yurou and got up to greet him with a smile: "Brother-in-law, I thought you werent coming."

  ——*——*——*——*——

  Collect and recommend. Thank you for your support, O(∩_∩)O~

  P.S., The male pig is not a scumbag.