Chapter 761 - 737: Are You Ready?
It’s not easy to host a gathering that’s both elegant and comprehensive, yet the grander the mansion, the more experience it usually has.
A gathering like this isn’t just about doing a good job oneself; it also requires participants of status and for others to save face.
Princess Ning was kind and tactful, while Prince Ning had always been low-key and cautious. This banquet was a social event among young children, yet Prince Ning still took the initiative to seek imperial approval.
The timid and rule-abiding Imperial Uncle was just hosting a gathering, yet acted so cautiously. This pleased the Emperor, who even allowed the Seventeenth Princess to attend.
Prince Ning was overjoyed. He was a bit worried about He Ye’s enthusiasm, fearing that if invitations were sent out and few people came, it would be embarrassing.
With the Seventeenth Princess attending, more noble ladies are sure to attend, ensuring his daughter won’t be shamed.
With the Emperor’s approval, he confidently sent out the invitations. The invitations for the Imperial Grandsons residing in the Capital City were certain; whether they respond is another matter. In any case, he mustn’t be discourteous.
Most of those noble ladies were strangers to Princess He Ye, but it didn’t matter; for young people, friendships are often formed through interaction.
With this in mind, Prince Ning Mansion sent out nearly a hundred invitations.
The Emperor smiled as he discussed the matter with the Empress, who also showed interest and sent some palace matrons to assist.
The Empress joked with Princess Ning that since her grandson hadn’t settled on a marriage yet, perhaps he might benefit from the joyous atmosphere of Prince Ning Mansion!
After her legitimate eldest son was demoted to Prince Liang, the Empress fell critically ill, but afterward, she seemed to have come to terms with it.
The grandson she referred to was Huangfu Yuxuan.
Upon hearing this, Princess Ning wondered if the Second Young Master of Prince Liang Mansion was thinking of seeking a noble lady. If he indeed fancied someone at her family’s banquet, it would indeed bring glory to her event!
That Second Young Master was a strikingly handsome man, and when people in the Capital City mentioned the Imperial Grandson, he was the first to come to mind.
Since the Second Young Master wished to select a betrothed from among the noble ladies, Princess Ning hurriedly prepared a batch of gold-embossed invitations specifically for ladies not originally intended to be invited.
If any of them succeeded, it would be an honor for Prince Ning Mansion as well.
Of course, if other young gentlemen and ladies took a liking to each other, it would also be a delightful event!
To avoid turning the banquet into an abrupt and blatant beauty contest for the Second Young Master, Prince Ning Mansion’s banquet didn’t just differ from the Seventeenth Princess’s in location but also in style; it included friends of the same generation as well as a number of noble ladies.
The flower hall of Prince Ning Mansion, shaped like a triangle, conveniently seated noble and graceful noblewomen on one side, elegant and suave noble young men on another, and beautiful and charming noble ladies on the third.
Mrs. Xia initially invited Xia Wenjin to ride in the same carriage, but Xia Wenjin expressed she could go from Xia Mansion herself.
Mrs. Xia didn’t insist, but simply instructed her two sons to take good care of their sister, ensuring that if she were bullied, they would bear the consequences.
Huangfu Yuxuan was still in the study, across from him sat Prince Liang with a face like a bitter gourd.
Prince Liang was writing.
Specifically, he was drafting a memorial.
Each stroke seemed exceedingly laborious, and Huangfu Yuxuan stood before the desk with his lip slightly raised, openly amused.
After the last word was penned, Prince Liang’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, portraying reluctant yet obliged resolve, clearly wanting to refuse yet appearing timid, which filled him with contempt, disdain, and irritation.
His smile gradually faded, his eyes turning cold: "What is it, Father, that this memorial gives you such trouble?"
Prince Liang stared intently at the memorial, speaking in a low, hesitant voice: "You know the chances of success are only fifty-fifty, and your Grandfather won’t agree, so why try?"
"How do you know Grandfather won’t agree?" Huangfu Yuxuan laughed coldly, "Besides, isn’t there still a fifty percent chance?"
Prince Liang said, "You are not married yet!"
"I will be soon!"
"Marriage isn’t child’s play!" Prince Liang shouted. This disobedient child, last time he fancied a bandit’s daughter and even forced him to arrange a betrothal. He, a dignified prince, going to arrange a betrothal for a bandit, yet the bandit had the audacity to refuse.
Whenever he recalled this event, he felt utterly humiliated!
He initially wanted to find a way to make that bandit pay, but as he pondered, no good solution came to mind.