There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 364 The Gift-Giving Scene

After entering Princess Changning's bedroom, Li Shuchen began drinking tea voraciously; she was practically dying of thirst.

Seeing this, Princess Changning dismissed the maids in the room and asked Li Shuchen, who had drunk three cups of tea,

"Why are you so thirsty? Isn't there any tea in the pavilion?"

Li Shuchen put down his teacup and said, "I got lost and walked for a long time before I finally found your place."

Princess Changning: "Lost? Who led you out?"

Li Shuchen paused for a moment before replying, "Young Master Xu."

Princess Changning exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this, "It's him?"

Then, cautiously, he asked, "He didn't do anything to you, did he?"

Li Shuchen: "No, he was very gentlemanly throughout the whole process, and his words and actions were very similar to Cheng Zhian's."

Princess Changning nodded: "That's good. Just let me know if you need anything, and I'll have someone arrange it."

Li Shuchen: "I know, you haven't taken the pills anymore, have you?"

Princess Changning: "I ate one today, so there are four left."

Li Shuchen: "Are you afraid that if people knew you were recovering from your illness, many people would be eager to marry you, so you ate it?"

Princess Changning: "Yes, I want them to think that my illness is incurable and give up their plans to marry me."

Li Shuchen: "Alright, let's stop after the banquet. There's not much point in eating anymore."

Princess Changning: "Okay."

"Shu Chen arrived very early."

Gu Ziying, Liang Yuying, and Ye Bingli entered the room together and came to Princess Changning's bedside.

"How is the illness?" Gu Ziying asked.

Princess Changning: "The imperial physician said the symptoms have lessened, and with continued medication, I will recover completely."

Gu Ziying was overjoyed upon hearing this: "That's wonderful! Make sure you take your medicine properly, and we'll wait for you to recover so we can celebrate New Year's Eve together."

Liang Yuying and Ye Bingli were also very happy, and their furrowed brows relaxed a little.

Princess Changning: "Okay."

"Don't stand up, let's sit down and talk."

Li Shuchen pulled the others to sit down, and after he sat down himself, he asked, "Yuying, have you found any information about the man who sent the flowers to Changning?"

Liang Yuying: "That man came from Qingzhou. He went to the capital to take the imperial examination and became a successful candidate. After that, he stayed at home and devoted himself to his studies."

Ten days ago, he suddenly seemed like a different person, going out to wander around every day, especially visiting the Precious Pavilion, the Aiyou Hall, and the Happiness Inn every single day.

Ye Bingli: "It seems his goal is very clear: Changning."

Princess Changning said urgently, "He must have been instructed by someone else."

Gu Ziying: "Has anyone found out who did it?"

Liang Yuying: "I had people watching him every day, but I didn't find him meeting with anyone."

Li Shuchen: "Perhaps the person behind this planned everything with him long ago, so he didn't need to show his face these past few days, and naturally we couldn't find anything."

Princess Changning: "What a vicious mind! If I find out who's behind this, I'll stab them three times, no, ten times!"

Liang Yuying: "I will continue to have people watching over him, and I will definitely let you know as soon as there is any news."

"Good"*4

"Princess, the banquet is about to begin."

The sound of jade came from outside.

The four of them stood up at the same time.

Li Shuchen: "We'll head over now, and we'll come back to say goodbye after the banquet."

Princess Changning: "Hurry up, the food will get cold if we're late."

The four followed Jade to the banquet, accompanied by many other people along the way.

There were so many people that it was dazzling; I couldn't take it all in.

Li Shuchen followed closely behind Emerald, afraid of being pushed and lost.

After walking for a while, we arrived at an elegant, luxurious, and spacious courtyard.

Jade: "These are your seats. Please follow Jade."

The four followed Jade to the first table in front of the female guests.

Jade: "Please sit down."

The first thing Li Shuchen did after sitting down was glance at the table. It was full of dishes, but she could only recognize a few of them.

It's no surprise that these are all delicacies, things rarely seen on ordinary days. She's definitely benefiting from Changning's generosity.

Hehe hehe

"Princess Jiale has arrived."

"Greetings to the Princess"

Princess Jiale: "Please rise, everyone. Today is my daughter's birthday, and she should be the one to entertain the guests. Unfortunately, she is ill and unable to receive them. I hope you will understand. I would like to offer you all a toast."

"You're too kind, Princess."

Li Shuchen downed the glass of wine in one gulp, letting out a soft hiss from the spiciness.

Gu Ziying turned to ask, "Is Shu Chen alright?"

Li Shuchen replied softly, "It smelled very nice to me, I thought it was fruit wine or flower wine, but I didn't expect it to be so strong. I miscalculated."

Liang Yuying: "This wine has a strong aftereffect if you drink a small amount, and it will make you feel unwell if you drink too much."

Li Shuchen: "Understood"

Princess Jiale said a few more official words before everyone began to eat.

Li Shuchen's chopsticks flew as he tasted each dish, his mouth constantly chewing.

Ye Bingli: "Shu Chen, take a sip of tea, be careful not to choke."

"it is good"

Li Shuchen raised his teacup and drank it all in one gulp. He had just put the cup down...

Young people then began giving gifts.

"Greetings, Princess Jiale. On the occasion of Princess Changning's birthday, I present you with a pair of intertwined branch rings, wishing Princess Jiale to find a worthy husband soon and live happily ever after with Princess Changning."

Princess Jiale nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad."

Li Shuchen ate his food while mentally criticizing Changning. Preparing a gift so close to Changning's birthday—how insincere! This man is no good, pass.

Then the next young man arrived.

"Greetings to Princess Jiale. I have prepared two jars of rose face masks for Princess Jiale and Princess Changning. Please apply them to your face for fifteen minutes and then wash them off."

Then they will be as smooth and white as a peeled egg. May Princess Jiale and Princess Changning stay young forever.

Princess Jiale nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad."

Li Shuchen sipped his tea and continued complaining: This one was the same as the last one, lacking sincerity, and even poorer than the last one. Pass.

Then the third man came on stage to show his gift: tea, the very same tea that Li Shuchen had sold to the teahouse.

Li Shuchen spat out a mouthful of tea leaves, shook his head, and said, "This still lacks sincerity, pass."

Then several more young people came up, bringing gifts that were neither original nor showed much sincerity.

Li Shuchen was tired of complaining, so he buried his head in his food and stopped listening.

When I was halfway full, I heard everyone gasp in surprise, so I immediately looked up.

Cheng Zhi'an stood in the center, with Ruan Jingshang behind him holding a sparkling platinum, diamond, and conch pearl crown in both hands.

Li Shuchen was completely stunned.

Holy crap, that sugar daddy was actually... it was him!

Gu Ziying: "I've never seen this before. It's so dazzling and captivating. Is it a new piece of jewelry designed by Cheng Jieyuan?"

Ye Bingli: "A single conch pearl is worth a thousand gold pieces; nine pearls together are of immeasurable value. Scholar Cheng is truly generous."

Liang Yuying frowned, her heart filled with displeasure, and said coldly, "What is the meaning of Young Master Cheng's actions?"

Li Shuchen spoke up softly, "It wasn't Cheng Zhian who sent it; it was someone else. I'll explain later."

Upon hearing this, all three looked at Li Shuchen, then swallowed their questions.

Princess Jiale: "Bring the items here."

"Yes"

The crown was moved to Princess Jiale's hands, and she examined it carefully, a smile barely concealed on her lips.

"Changning will surely love this item; Scholar Cheng, you have put in a lot of effort."

Cheng Zhi'an cupped her hands and said, "Your Highness flatters me."