northernbook Chapter 190: The Prince's Banquet Invitation
Chapter 190: The Prince's Banquet Invitation
Shi Wu was conflicted for a moment, but then he flatly refused.
"No, I can't take your money for no reason."
If he didn't want to join the army without any worries, he wouldn't have delayed until this time. Taking other people's money for nothing would also make him feel uneasy.
"Then Master Shi, treat it as me betting on the possibility of you achieving great things. If that day really comes, you will return me double the money then."
Five hundred taels is nothing to her or the Jiang family, but for Shi Wu, it may be an opportunity to change his destiny.
Shi Wu frowned, "What if I die on the battlefield? I won't have the chance to pay you back."
"Then will you blame myself and think that I killed you?" Jiang Suining asked.
"Of course not. It is a proud thing to sacrifice one's life for the country." Shi Wu said without hesitation.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhitong couldn't help but speak up: "Shi Zhuangshi is admirable. You must accept this money no matter what. Joining the army is a big deal and can't be delayed any further."
"That's right, brave man, please accept it." Zheng also said, "If you continue to delay, you may really lose the opportunity to join the army."
Looking at Jiang Suining and the others, Shi Wu hesitated for a while, and finally nodded, "Okay, I'll accept the money. I, Shi Wu, will remember this favor for the rest of my life."
Shi Wu clasped his fists in thanks and took the banknote, but then immediately gave another one back to Jiang Suining.
"Four hundred taels will be enough."
"The remaining one hundred taels can be used for travel expenses and to settle your eldest brother and his parents, so that you can feel more at ease when joining the army." Jiang Suining said.
Shi Wu didn't expect that the other party would even consider this point. He clasped his fists and thanked Jiang Suining again sincerely.
"Thank you Miss Jiang, but... they left a few months ago and are no longer needed. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to join the army with peace of mind."
As for the travel expenses, he has hands and feet, so he can earn this little money.
At Shi Wu's insistence, Jiang Suining took back the one hundred taels.
She, Jiang Zhitong and Zheng personally escorted the person out of the house.
Shi Wu left with the big knife.
When Jiang Suining and the others turned around and prepared to return home, they saw the carriage of the Prince of Chu's Palace.
The carriage stopped and Chu Jingyue got out of it.
"Greetings, Princess Chu." Jiang Zhitong and Zheng bowed and greeted.
"Uncle Jiang, Aunt Jiang, you don't have to be so polite." Chu Jingyue spoke quickly.
Because Chu Jingyue often came to the Jiang family, Jiang Zhitong and Zheng did not hesitate to be too polite. After inviting her into the house, the couple left, leaving Jiang Suining and Chu Jingyue to talk alone.
After Jiang Zhitong and the others walked away, Chu Jingyue immediately asked.
"Sui Ning, do you know the Third Prince?"
"The Third Prince?" Jiang Suining frowned, not quite understanding why Chu Jingyue suddenly asked this, but still shook his head and said, "I don't know him."
"What about the Fourth Prince?" Chu Jingyue continued to ask.
"I don't know him. I've never seen him before." Jiang Suining continued to shake his head.
"That's strange." Chu Jingyue frowned, "Sui Ning, the Third Prince will hold a banquet on May 1st. I just received the invitation, but there is also one for you, saying that he wants to invite you to go with him that day."
Jiang Suining was stunned. Invite her?
"I have never met the Third Prince, why did you invite me?"
"Yeah, I also find it strange. I thought you two had met before. And the Fourth Prince even sent someone to tell me that I should take you with me when the time comes."
Jiang Suining frowned. No matter whether it was the Third Prince or the Fourth Prince, she was sure that she had never seen them in this life.
More importantly, when the prince holds a banquet at his palace, based on his status, he will definitely not be invited.
"Jingyue, where is the invitation?"
Chu Jingyue took out the invitation from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Suining.
Jiang Suining opened it and found that her name was indeed written on it, but she really couldn't understand why.
"Sui Ning, he is the prince after all, and the invitation has already been sent. It would be too rude if I don't go." Chu Jingyue said.
"I understand." Jiang Suining nodded, "Then go ahead. It's a good opportunity to find out why I was invited."
Chu Jingyue left, and the two agreed to meet at the gate of Prince Chu's mansion on the day of the banquet, and then go there together.
Jiang Suining thought for a while, then went to see Jiang Zhitong and Zheng and told them about this matter.
Jiang Zhitong and Zheng were both very surprised, but when Jiang Suining said that she really didn't know the reason, they believed her.
Jiang Zhitong even sent someone to secretly inquire about it, but he didn't find out any information.
In a blink of an eye, it is the first day of May.
Jiang Suining brought Xier with him, and Lin Jie drove the car to Prince Chu's Mansion to meet Chu Jingyue, and then the two of them went to the Third Prince's Mansion together.
According to the old Beiyang custom, the prince usually started his own household when he was between sixteen and twenty years old.
But most princes would live in the palace until they were eighteen years old, and then they would be allowed to set up their own residence.
"The Third Prince is twenty years old this year, which is considered late in terms of age. I heard that the Third Prince's mother was of humble origin and died early, so the Third Prince was not taken seriously in the palace when he was young, and was not favored by the Emperor. After entering the court at the age of fifteen, he gradually emerged. He has made some political achievements in the past two years, and now he is allowed to open a government office because of his age..."
In the carriage, Chu Jingyue carefully introduced the situation of the third prince Xiao Ling to Jiang Suining.
Although Jiang Suining had heard some things in his previous life, he didn't know as much as Chu Jingyue.
In her previous life, although she was the mistress of the Changning Marquis' Mansion, she had just married into the Changning Marquis' Mansion not long ago when the banquet was held. As far as she could remember, the Changning Marquis' Mansion did not seem to participate in the banquet.
"Will all the court officials and clan members be invited to the Third Prince's opening banquet?"
"That won't happen." Chu Jingyue shook her head. "It's mainly because of those who have daily contacts or good relationships with him. As far as I know, among all the princes, only the Fourth Prince and the Third Prince are good friends, and I guess he will be the only one coming today. As for the court officials, unless they are specifically invited by name, most of them will ask their children of the same age to come and congratulate him on their behalf. After all, he is a prince, and the crown prince has not yet been decided, so he still has to avoid suspicion."
As Chu Jingyue finished speaking, the carriage arrived at the gate of the Third Prince's mansion.
Chu Jingyue lifted the curtain and was about to get off the carriage when she heard a familiar voice.
"It's so annoying. I've already said that I don't like to wear women's clothes, but my father insisted that I couldn't be rude when attending a banquet. And my mother is the same. If I hadn't run away quickly, I would have been forced to dress up by her. It's so troublesome!"
Chu Jingyue's face darkened. She knew who it was without even looking at the tone of disdain that came from it.