Phi-Fic Chapter 660: Don’t You Like Any of Them?
Chapter 660: Don’t You Like Any of Them?
Faced with Xiao Lan's deliberate exposure, Xiao Yue was not at all flustered and just made up an excuse.
"Just when I was about to come in, I suddenly realized that the jade pendant was missing. I guessed that it fell on the way here, so I went back to look for it for a while. Speaking of which, this princess also wanted to come in with you, the eighth princess, but I didn't expect you to walk so fast. You seemed very impatient, so I didn't ask you to wait for me."
Xiao Lan's face changed. She certainly didn't believe that Xiao Yue went back to look for something, but she didn't expect that the other party not only made up a reason, but also tried to drag them down, acting as if they couldn't wait to meet these children from aristocratic families!
"Xiao Yue, you..."
"Eighth sister." Xiao Lin gently tugged at Xiao Lan's sleeve and shook her head at her.
It was bad enough to have a quarrel outside just now, let alone now in front of so many people.
After Xiao Lin stopped Xiao Lan, he looked at Xiao Yue.
"Then I wonder if the lost jade pendant of the fifth sister has been found?"
"Thank you for your concern, Sixth Sister. I found it." Xiao Yue pointed to the transparent white jade on her waist.
"It's good that you found it. We didn't want to keep you waiting for too long, so we didn't say hello to the Fifth Princess at the entrance and came in directly. If the jade pendant is lost next time, the Fifth Princess must tell her, and we will personally accompany you to look for it."
Xiao Lin's smile was gentle, and her tone was full of concern, making people feel like they were basking in the spring breeze.
Jiang Suining and Wei Yao stood not far away and watched. Wei Yao said in a low voice, "We rarely see the Sixth Princess on weekdays. Today, she looks dignified and gentle."
Jiang Suining smiled softly without saying much, his eyes falling on Xiao Yue's luxurious dress.
I don't know whether this outfit today was Xiao Yue's own idea or someone else's suggestion. Although it is stunning, it is a bit too flashy and really inappropriate.
However, Jiang Suining did not intend to remind Xiao Yue. Firstly, she had already appeared in this outfit. Secondly, no matter what Xiao Yue wore, it had nothing to do with her. All they needed to ensure was that today's garden party went smoothly.
"Ayao, you stay here and watch. I'll go check on Ayan." Jiang Suining spoke softly to Wei Yao.
Although Lu Yan was allowed to return to the palace to continue her duties as a female official, there were many people at the banquet today, and Lu Wenshi's business had just ended. In order to avoid too much attention, Lu Yan did not appear in the imperial garden, but was responsible for some things behind the scenes.
"Okay, go ahead. I'll be watching here, don't worry." Wei Yao nodded and said.
When Jiang Suining left, Xiao Yue had already walked among the crowd, but she still saw her at a glance.
Their eyes met across the crowd. Xiao Yue gently raised her eyebrows at Jiang Suining. She looked in a very good mood, as if she was very happy about the limelight she had gained today.
Jiang Suining nodded slightly and quickly left the garden, but she couldn't help shaking her head in her heart. It seemed that Xiao Yue didn't notice her problem today at all.
Even if she is the eldest princess, her style is probably no more than this. Xiao Yue is being too much in the spotlight today, which is really not a good thing.
Xiao Yue naturally knew nothing about what Jiang Suining was thinking.
Feeling everyone's gazes on her, she felt a little dizzy. After the garden party, she thought she was the absolute protagonist.
Of course, she did not forget the purpose of today's banquet. She looked at the children of the noble families who were attending the banquet, but after choosing and selecting, she always felt a little dissatisfied.
Either it's because of bad looks, or because of insufficient height, or because of a lack of bearing. He looks cautious and not generous enough.
After much difficulty, I picked out a few who were considered to be of superior appearance and temperament, and then inquired about their identities and family backgrounds one by one.
But in the end, I still feel that none of them seem to be worthy of me.
"They are all unprofitable jobs. Don't they have any promising future?" Xiao Yue said to Qiao Fu with dissatisfaction.
Qiao Fu carefully looked around, and was afraid that others might hear her, so she lowered her voice and said, "Princess, the young masters are not too old, and it is already very good for you to hold an official position at such a young age."
Most of the young men from aristocratic families who entered the palace for the banquet today were only in their twenties. Most of them relied on their family background to get a position in the court. They had not been in the court for long, so how could they be in a special high position?
"I see that they are not young anymore. Shen Yanxi should be about the same age as them. Hasn't he been appointed as Prime Minister? And Pei Zhaozhi is also the Minister of Justice. Among these people, the highest official rank is only the sixth rank, which is really not good enough." Xiao Yue was dissatisfied.
Could it be that because today's garden banquet was not about choosing a husband for her own daughter, Empress Shi didn't put much effort into it and just randomly found some people to fool around?
"Princess, Prime Minister Shen and Lord Pei are really rare. There are only a few of them among the civil and military officials in the court."
"Jiang Suining is just a merchant's daughter, and she married someone like Shen Yanxi. How can I, a princess from a royal family, choose casually among these people?" Xiao Yue frowned, feeling very unhappy, completely ignoring the fact that she had become accustomed to using birth to determine status.
Qiao Fu hesitated for a moment, looked around again, and finally lowered her voice and said carefully: "But Princess, if they are really important officials with a bright future, they probably won't come to choose a prince consort."
Xiao Yue frowned and looked at Qiao Fu, "Isn't it said that there is no rule in Beiyang Kingdom that a prince consort cannot be a high-ranking official?"
"This..." Qiao Fu looked embarrassed and didn't know how to explain for a moment.
Xiao Lin walked to the side at some point, still with a smile on her face and a soft, low voice.
"Royal sister, although there is no rule that a consort cannot be a high-ranking official, if he is really an important official of the court with a bright future, he naturally would not want to be a consort."
If a man has a good family background, good looks, and a bright future, in this case marrying the woman he loves and having a harmonious relationship with his wife is much more comfortable than being a royal consort.
Even if you don't have a loved one, marrying a woman of a lower family status as the mistress, who can help you manage the harem and not stop you from taking concubines, is better than being a prince consort.
Xiao Yue frowned and looked at Xiao Lin, not taking the other person's words to heart.
She just felt that if she had to choose a prince consort, she would naturally choose one who was good in every way, who would obey her and only have her in his heart and eyes.
And she believed that she would be able to find one. With her appearance, talent, and status as a princess, she would be able to pick the best husband.
"Sixth sister, I'm different from you. I'm not willing to just make do."
Xiao Lan, who was originally on the other side, saw Xiao Lin and Xiao Yue talking, and walked over. When she got closer, she just heard these words.
"Just make do?" Xiao Lan frowned and deliberately raised her voice, "Fifth sister, there are so many young masters from noble families here, don't you like any of them?"