Tianliangyuan

Chapter 105 The Cousin Who Loves to Get Attention

One sentence was enough to shut Li Biyao down.

Are palace banquets really that restrictive?

She was hoping to take the opportunity to flirt with a prince or a son of another noble family, but it seems that the chance is gone.

Although Xu Tingting and Xu Wanwan were illegitimate daughters, their stepmother had always treated them well and never mistreated them. Whether it was their clothing, food, housing, or upbringing, they were always raised according to the standards of a noble lady. The two of them had attended palace banquets in their early years, and now that they had returned to the capital after many years, they had not forgotten some necessary etiquette.

The thought that the opportunity she had worked so hard to obtain might just be a chance to broaden her horizons immediately dampened Li Biyao's enthusiasm.

Li Biyao's recent stay at her aunt's house was mainly to find a suitable husband.

She had been living here for some time, but had attended very few banquets. Moreover, her aunt had gone out to banquets twice without taking her along, which made her somewhat dissatisfied.

Li Biyao couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when she thought of that person in Ziyuan.

“My two younger sisters, do you know why Miss Zhao Zhao can live in such a large garden? I’ve heard that Zi Garden is the best garden in the backyard, even bigger than the garden where my aunt and uncle live.”

Xu Tingting nodded: "Yes, Ziyuan is indeed very big. Mainly because my uncle dotes on my second sister, and he only had a daughter after having three sons, so naturally he cherishes her very much!"

Xu Wanwan was also excited: "Yes, yes, I remember that my uncle listens to my second sister on many things. And the fireplace that my second sister fixed is really useful! I'll ask my second sister for advice later and ask her to make one for my room too."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tingting also expressed her excitement: "I want one too! I want one too!"

Seeing the two sisters so excited about a broken stove, Li Biyao couldn't help but feel a little disgusted.

This Marquis's mansion is so wealthy, how could these two cousins ​​be so stupid!

Being born out of wedlock, it's useless!

Li Biyao had not been at the Marquis's residence for long and had only seen Xu Zhaozhao a few times at family banquets; they had hardly spoken.

Moreover, she could tell that Xu Zhaozhao seemed to have a rather indifferent personality. She always seemed to be all smiles to everyone, but there was clearly not much emotion in her eyes.

Li prepared clothes for all three of them, and the jewelry was kept simple.

Li Biyao was not satisfied, feeling that her outfit was too plain, so she secretly added two more gold hairpins to her hair.

Before they even left the courtyard, Li saw them and immediately scolded them.

"What's wrong with your head? Didn't you listen to a word I said? Take off your hair ornament! If you're going to be so disobedient, then you don't need to come to the palace today."

Li Biyao was startled, not understanding why her aunt had suddenly become angry.

She just wanted to dress up and look pretty, is that wrong?

Li Biyao had no idea that neither the Li family nor Wang Ruolan wanted their daughter to be associated with the royal family. Look at the princes' mansions, dukes' mansions, and princesses' mansions in the capital, how many of them were peaceful?

There are many tricks in the inner quarters of high-ranking families. Let alone Li Biyao, even if Xu Tingting and Xu Wanwan were to enter the inner quarters of the princes, they would only be concubines. How could their lives be easy?

Moreover, today is a palace banquet, and the palace is never short of beautiful women.

When a teenage girl enters the palace to pay her respects to the Empress, she only needs to dress appropriately; why does she have to be overly flamboyant?

Is this because you're afraid others won't see through your little scheme?

Xu Zhaozhao and her sisters dressed in a conventional and unremarkable manner, but they wouldn't disgrace the Marquis's mansion.

After entering the palace, one must transfer to a sedan chair, but one must disembark after only a short distance. According to palace regulations, women of rank below Lady of the State must enter on foot.

Wang Ruolan whispered, "Keep an eye on these three younger sisters. Remember to constantly remind them to behave themselves and be careful with their words and actions."

"Yes, mother."

Li Biyao was accompanied by a maid from the Marquis's mansion today, which was specially arranged by Madam Li.

In fact, when Li saw Li Biyao dressed up this morning, she sensed something was wrong and regretted agreeing to bring her into the palace.

However, since the list had already been submitted, and she was afraid of being criticized if she didn't go, they simply replaced her maid to prevent her from causing any more trouble.

Xu Zhaozhao disliked Li Biyao from the very beginning; the greed and ambition in her eyes were too obvious.

Her own abilities and family background are insufficient to support such ambitions, which makes her seem ridiculous!

Today is the Empress's banquet, so the princes will not be allowed to come in to pay their respects. Consort Jiang and other concubines will also be coming. Some want to choose wives and concubines for their sons, some want to take this opportunity to reunite with their families, and some are simply here to watch the excitement.

Consort Jiang had no sons, only a princess who was still young. Today, Lady Deng, the wife of Consort Jiang, came with Jiang Yuan from her second wife's side and a girl from a collateral branch.

Xu Zhaozhao noticed the unfamiliar Miss Jiang, who was outstanding in appearance, and she felt that her eyebrows and eyes seemed to resemble those of Consort Jiang.

She knew about the saying "niece Xiao Gu," but how could a cousin niece look like her cousin aunt?

That sounds very mysterious!

As soon as Princess Leyang and Princess Anhe arrived, they came over to talk to Xu Zhaozhao. Xu Wanwan and Xu Tingting also came over to pay their respects.

The Empress and others have not yet appeared, so they are relatively free.

"Sister Zhao Zhao is hiding very well. Is she afraid we'll ask you for peach blossom wine again?"

Xu Zhaozhao quickly tried to appease her: "Please forgive me, sisters! The peach blossom wine really can't be opened yet."

Princess Leyang didn't believe it: "Then where did the peach blossom wine used at today's banquet come from?"

Xu Zhaozhao chuckled: "That was brewed last year. I originally planned to store it in the cellar for five years before taking it out, and the flavor would definitely be more mellow. But I didn't expect the Empress to send someone to ask. I dare not lie to the Empress."

Princess Leyang snorted coldly, "You're a little liar! Let me tell you, I want at least ten jars of peach blossom wine this year. If you dare to give me even one less jar, I'll never forgive you! I'm saying I want ten jars for myself, as for my mother's wine, that's not my business!"

Xu Zhaozhao was startled: "Princess, aren't you being too greedy? I only got so many in total, and you got ten jars all by yourself."

Princess Anhe simply watched the two bicker with a smile. Given her relationship with Xu Zhaozhao, she was certain that she would have plenty of these good things, so she didn't get involved.

Seeing that the two noble ladies completely ignored her, Li Biyao timidly asked, "Is Peach Blossom Wine a kind of wine? Judging from the name, it seems to be brewed from peach blossoms. Sister Zhao Zhao, as the daughter of a marquis, do you even know how to brew wine?"

As soon as she spoke, everyone looked over.

Seeing that the princess and the county princess were looking at her, Li Biyao couldn't help but raise her chest a little: "Sister Zhaozhao is so amazing, she can even brew wine. I can't do that. Apart from needlework and some music, chess, calligraphy and painting, I don't have anything to show for myself."

Everyone: ...Does she have some serious illness?