webnovelfull Chapter 543: Lady Jiang, please don't be partial
Chapter 543: Lady Jiang, please don't be partial
Xiao Yue was wearing a bright red palace dress today. The hem of her skirt was decorated with large patches of peonies, and the neckline was trimmed with a circle of snow-white fox fur. With a bright red peony cloak of the same color, she looked extremely dazzling.
Looking at everyone, she stopped and curled her lips slightly. She waited until everyone had finished their greetings before she spoke.
"Everyone, get up. Today's snow-viewing banquet is mainly for everyone to have fun together. There is no need to be so restrained."
"Yes, thank you, Fifth Princess." Everyone responded in unison.
Xiao Yue's eyes moved around, swept across Jiang Suining inconspicuously, and stopped on Chu Jingyue. She walked forward with a smile in her eyes.
"Princess Chu, I am really happy that you can come today."
"Thank you, Princess. I am very happy to be invited by you." Chu Jingyue bowed slightly again.
Xiao Yue reached out her hand to support him, "Princess Chu, there's no need to be so polite. You're pregnant and can't move easily. Sit down and rest."
As she spoke, Xiao Yue raised her eyebrows when she noticed the thick cushions and heater on Chu Jingyue's seat.
"This princess was thinking of having someone prepare something specifically for Princess Chu, but I didn't expect it has already been arranged. If I'm not mistaken, it should be the order of Lady Jiang."
Xiao Yue looked at Jiang Suining.
Jiang Suining nodded, "Princess, yes, Princess Chu is pregnant, so I specially ordered someone to put a cushion."
"As expected of Jiang, a lady-in-waiting who is valued by my mother and promoted by my father, you are indeed attentive. However, it is cold today, so you can't be partial to one and ignore the other. Should you prepare only for Princess Chu? Will this princess and the others have to endure the cold?"
When Xiao Yue said the latter sentence, there was obviously a hint of gloating in her tone.
Chu Jingyue frowned and was about to speak when Jiang Suining took the lead and answered respectfully.
"Princess, according to the number of people you invited, all the thick cushions and heaters have been prepared. However, since you invited us to enjoy the snow, I don't know whether you want to stay in the imperial garden with your relatives or go somewhere else to enjoy the scenery, so I haven't asked anyone to bring them up yet. Princess Chu is pregnant and is more likely to catch a cold, so I will take the initiative to arrange it first."
Although there was some light snow last night, it was not heavy and most of it melted overnight.
It was sunny at the moment and not cold. There were cushions on everyone's seats. If she really prepared thick cushions and heaters for everyone, Xiao Yue would probably say that she was doing something unnecessary.
Listening to Jiang Suining's unhurried explanation, Xiao Yue felt unhappy, but it was not easy for her to continue to complain, so she spoke again.
"Lady Jiang is thoughtful. It is true that it is still early for dinner, but it is boring to sit here. This princess plans to take everyone to the plum garden to enjoy the scenery together. Although the snow has melted last night, it is quite cold in the plum garden. Maybe we can still see snow-covered plum blossoms."
This decision was within Jiang Suining's expectations. "I have asked someone to prepare a hand warmer. If you need it, you can take it to the Plum Garden."
"Madam Jiang is so thoughtful and meticulous." Chu Jingyue praised.
As soon as these words were spoken, some of the female relatives also echoed them.
"Yes, Miss Jiang is really considerate. I just need a hand warmer."
"I need one too. Although it's not cold now, if the Plum Garden is cold and gloomy, it would be better to take one."
"I want one too. I was in a hurry when I first entered the palace, and the one I brought from home fell into the carriage."
Xiao Yue snorted inwardly when she heard these words. It was clearly she who organized the snow-viewing party, but now everyone was praising Jiang Suining.
"Okay, since Miss Jiang has prepared so well, let's quickly get the things up, and then we'll go to the Plum Garden."
"Yes." Jiang Suining responded, turned his head and gave a few instructions to the palace servants behind him, then looked at Chu Jingyue who was still sitting in his seat.
"Princess Chu is pregnant. The road to the Plum Garden may be difficult to walk on due to the snow. It is better for her to stay here and rest."
Chu Jingyue was about to nod when she heard Xiao Yue say.
"The roads in this palace are cleaned by people, so it's not difficult to walk on them. Besides, since Princess Chu is attending the banquet in the palace today, she should have fun with everyone. How can we leave her here alone?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the women who had been chatting and laughing just now fell silent, and many of them noticed that something was wrong.
After all, Princess Chu was pregnant, so it was normal for her not to go to the Plum Garden and stay to rest. The Fifth Princess refuted Lady Jiang's proposal so quickly, it seemed as if she was forcing her to go.
Feeling everyone's gazes, Xiao Yue realized that his tone just now was a bit too much, so he spoke to Chu Jingyue again.
"Princess Chu, please don't misunderstand. I just feel that I am very compatible with you and want to go with you. I have no other intentions. Of course, if you want to stay and rest, that's fine. But everyone has left, and the Imperial Garden is a bit deserted. It would be boring for you to sit here alone. Why don't we go together? I can walk slowly with you."
Chu Jingyue was unhappy, but she couldn't lose face for Xiao Yue in front of so many people.
She forced out a faint smile, "Since the princess has said so, then I naturally cannot spoil the princess's interest, let's go together."
"Okay, let's go." Xiao Yue said quickly.
The hand warmers had been distributed, and everyone began to walk slowly towards the plum garden.
Jiang Suining and Lu Yan fell behind a little. Looking at Chu Jingyue walking beside Xiao Yue in front, Lu Yan couldn't help but frown.
"Sui Ning, something is indeed wrong. Why did the Fifth Princess insist on asking Princess Chu to go to the Plum Garden with her? Could something happen in the Plum Garden?"
Although she still felt that the Fifth Princess would not do anything to Princess Chu, it was strange that she insisted on letting her go with her even though she knew she was pregnant.
If someone didn't know, they might think that the Fifth Princess and Princess Chu didn't get along, but as far as she knew, there had never been any interaction between the two of them.
Jiang Suining's brows were solemn, and he stared at Chu Jingyue's back intently.
"It didn't snow today, and there are only a few places in the palace where you can enjoy the view. I have already sent people to check them all in advance. There was nothing wrong with the Plum Garden except that the road was a little wet and slippery. However... the Fifth Princess did seem to have other purposes today."
Although her mind told her that Xiao Yue couldn't be bold enough to do anything to Jingyue, she still felt uneasy in her heart, and she always felt that something was going to happen at today's banquet.
Jiang Suining frowned and thought, his eyes scanning the people in front of him one by one.
The next moment, she suddenly turned her head and whispered to Lu Yan...