Chapter 3 Banquet

　"Girl...why are you crying?"

　　Biwu looked at her eldest daughter with concern.

　　However, Shen Yuan's usual actions and deeds fully demonstrated the gentle and dignified temperament of a lady from a noble family. However, once that beautiful face like a lotus shed tears, a hint of frown and weakness would be revealed between her delicate eyebrows.

　　She is so delicate and graceful that I feel pity for her.

　　But there is no sense of affectation at all.

　　Shen Yuan took the handkerchief that Bi Wu handed to her without saying a word, and then wiped her tears.

　　After a while, the beauty's watery eyes finally turned from sad to calm.

　　Shen Yuan asked, "Father called me over, what is it about?"

　　After Bi Wu carefully helped Shen Yuan up from the bed, she answered truthfully, "I don't know either. The servant from He Xiang Tang left in a hurry, so I didn't have time to ask."

　　Shen Yuan nodded indifferently after hearing this. After Bi Wu simply tidied her clothes and hair, the master and servant soon arrived at Hexiang Hall again.

　　In the lotus pond outside the hall, ripples appeared on the still water.

　　Colorful koi fish of various colors are also swimming happily in the pond.

　　Before he even stepped over the threshold, Shen Yuan heard loud bursts of sobbing from outside the hall.

　　"It's good that you're back... Sister Yu, it's good that you're back. You don't know how much your father has been missing you lately. He's lost his appetite and has lost a lot of weight!"

　　The person who was speaking was Shen Hongliang's second wife, Liu, and next to Liu stood a young girl. She was wearing a rouge-colored thin silk jacket and looked very pretty.

　　This girl was born to Liu, and was also the second daughter of the Marquis's family. Her name was Shen Han.

　　Shen Han noticed her eldest sister Shen Yuan, who was standing outside the hall but had not entered the room. She wiped the corners of her eyes, which were free of tears, with a handkerchief and winked at her mother.

　　Shen Yuan continued to watch the "heart-touching" reunion scene in the hall calmly.

　　A suppressed and gentle cry suddenly sounded again——

　　"Wow... Father, I'm so sorry... My daughter... She was killed by the bandits in order to protect me. I didn't even have time to bury her before she was captured by the bandits in the mountains. Fortunately, a kind farmer saved me. I was able to keep my reputation and not be defiled..."

　　From Shen Yuan's angle, he could only see Shen Yu's thin back rising and falling as she cried.

　　But it can be clearly seen that when Shen Hongliang looked at Shen Yu, his eyes were filled with a father's love and kindness for his daughter.

　　The reason why Shen Hongliang brought her from Yangzhou to the capital was that he thought Shen Yu and her mother were dead.

　　After she was brought to the capital from Yangzhou, she met Shen Hongliang several times.

　　However, Shen Hongliang was indifferent to her, his eldest daughter who was not raised by his side.

　　The way he looked at her was as if he was looking at a mayfly.

　　I couldn't sense any disgust in him, but he definitely didn't care.

　　Shen Hongliang comforted Shen Yu and said, "My child, I am glad that you can come back safely. Your father will build a tomb for your mother and place her tablet in the Shen family's mourning hall. You can relax..."

　　Shen Yu nodded heavily and replied with tears in his eyes: "Thank you, father... for still thinking about my mother..."

　　After hearing that Shen Hongliang was actually going to place a concubine's tablet in the Shen family's mourning hall, Liu's expression changed slightly.

　　But on second thought, although Shen Yu's mother, Tang, was the most favored by Shen Hongliang during her lifetime, she was a person with an unfortunate fate.

　　Since she was no longer alive, there was no point for her to bother with a dead person.

　　Liu had also caught a glimpse of Shen Yuan standing outside the hall early in the morning, but she pretended to have just seen her and reminded Shen Hongliang in a low voice: "My Lord, the eldest lady is here too."

　　As soon as stepmother Liu finished speaking, Shen Yuan stepped over the threshold and walked slowly in front of Shen Yu and Shen Hongliang.

　　Shen Yuan bowed slightly to Shen Hongliang and said respectfully, "Father."

　　Shen Hongliang said "hmm" to Shen Yuan.

　　The petite Shen Yu, because of sadness, just threw herself into the arms of her father Shen Hongliang.

　　Shen Hongliang patted Shen Yu's shoulder soothingly, and then motioned her to look at Shen Yuan.

　　Shen Yu's eyes were filled with tears, but when he turned around and saw Shen Yuan, his expression suddenly changed.

　　"you..."

　　Looking at her surprised expression, Shen Yuan's eyes were very calm.

　　But in that silence, there was a hint of chill that was hardly noticeable.

　　After that long dream, many memories hidden in his mind came flooding back after Shen Yuan woke up.

　　On this day in the previous life, Lu Chen came to the mansion to propose marriage.

　　That afternoon, Shen Yu returned to the Marquis' Mansion.

　　The same scene of crying and wiping tears, the same expression of surprise.

　　All the details have not changed at all.

　　Thinking of this, Shen Yuan gradually subsided the coldness in her eyes, and smiled gently, saying first: "Yu Jie'er, I am your eldest sister Shen Yuan. My father just brought me back to the capital from Yangzhou a few days ago."

　　Liu saw what Shen Yu was thinking and said, "Sister Yu, you and Sister Yuan are closely related, so it's inevitable that you two sisters will look more alike."

　　Shen Yuan's smile gradually faded.

　　What Liu said was indeed true. She and Shen Yu were truly close relatives.

　　When Shen Hongliang was young, he, like Lu Chen, married the elder sister and younger sister of the Tang family and enjoyed the enviable blessing of having two wives.

　　Shen Yuan's mother, Ms. Tang, died when she was just born.

　　Although Shen Yuan didn't know how Shen Hongliang felt about his mother when she was alive.

　　But seeing Shen Hongliang's cold attitude towards her, she could guess that he should have done something like Lu Chen, favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife.

　　Shen Yu's eyelashes were drooping with tears. Seeing that Shen Yuan spoke to her first, she called her in a soft voice: "Elder sister..."

Shen Hongliang saw that Shen Yu seemed a little shy, so he told Shen Yuan: "Since Sister Yu has returned home safely, as the eldest sister, you should take good care of her in the future."

　　Shen Yuan nodded slightly and responded calmly.

　　Liu looked at Shen Yuan lowering her slender and graceful snow-white neck, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, it was really rare that a salt merchant in Yangzhou could raise such a graceful and elegant girl.

　　In contrast, her Han'er, who had been raised in a marquis's mansion in the capital since childhood, did not have half the extraordinary temperament of her elder sister Shen Yuan.

　　After Shen Hong ordered his wife and daughter to sit down, Liu was still carefully pondering his words.

　　The more she thought about it, the more she felt that her master really favored Shen Yu, his concubine's daughter.

　　Although Shen Yuan was a few years older than Shen Yu, she had just arrived in the capital from Yangzhou a few days ago. She was not yet fully familiar with the environment of the capital, and this was the first time she met Shen Yu.

　　If Shen Hongliang had been more fair, he should have said: You two sisters should take care of each other.

　　Instead of letting the newly arrived eldest daughter unilaterally take care of Shen Yu, the concubine's sister.

　　The servants had already served tea to the masters in the hall. Liu picked up the teacup on the high red table beside her and sipped the hot tea.

　　Then she thought again, Shen Yuan was not her biological daughter anyway, so whether Shen Hongliang treated her coldly or doted on her, it had little to do with her.

　　As long as Shen Yuan and Shen Yu don't hinder her sister Han's future, she will continue to be a virtuous stepmother in front of them.

　　Liu glanced at Shen Yuan and Shen Yu, who looked similar. She seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly glanced at Shen Hongliang who was sitting next to her.

　　Now that Shen Yu has been found, does the marriage between Shen Yuan and Kangping Earl Lu Chen still count? !

　　Shen Hongliang was aware of Liu's gaze. After he placed the teacup in his hand on the high table, he said to his wives and daughters, "It's getting late. You should all go back to your own courtyards and rest."

　　Everyone responded in unison.

　　Just as Shen Yuan was about to stand up, he heard Shen Hongliang say, "Sister Yu, please stay alone. Your father has something to tell you."

　　——

　　After leaving He Xiang Tang, it was almost dusk and a gentle breeze was blowing.

　　Bi Wu followed Shen Yuan angrily, complaining in a low voice: "The Marquis is too partial... I feel sorry for the girl."

　　After saying that, Bi Wu raised her eyes and looked at Shen Yuan, but she saw that her expression was indifferent, and she just replied calmly: "Bi Wu, let's go faster so that we can go back to the yard to pack up."

　　Bi Wu was puzzled: "Girl, why do we have to pack up?"

　　Shen Yuan did not answer Bi Wu's question. He just turned his head and smiled without saying anything, looking at her steadily.

　　Then, Bi Wu looked at the earrings hanging on her master's white earlobes, which suddenly began to sway slightly.

　　While Biwu was stunned, Shen Yuan had already quickly walked several feet away from her.

　　After coming to her senses, Bi Wu hurriedly called out, "Miss, please wait for me!"

　　——

　　The things Shen Yuan brought from Yangzhou to the capital were not much, just some women's things such as clothes and jewelry.

　　Soon after returning to the courtyard, Biwu and the other maids helped Shen Yuan to organize the items in two large mahogany boxes.

　　Biwu still didn't know what Shen Yuan was going to do.

　　It was not until the second young lady Shen Yu brought a few servants to the courtyard that Bi Wu completely understood Shen Yuan's thoughts.

　　——"The elder girl has packed her things in advance. The younger ones will help her carry them away."

　　After the leading servant finished speaking, Biwu's face fell a little.

　　Shen Yuan's expression remained calm as usual.

　　This courtyard was originally the residence of Shen Yu and her mother. Now that Shen Yu has returned, according to Shen Hongliang's personality, he will definitely ask her to return the courtyard to Shen Yu to live in.

　　Even if Shen Hongliang allowed her to continue living here, Shen Yuan didn't want to live there anymore. Sooner or later, she would ask Shen Hongliang to move out.

　　Shen Yuan didn't know what Shen Hongliang had said to Shen Yu in Hexiang Hall just now, but he could guess most of the content.

　　Otherwise, Shen Yu wouldn't be able to look at her like that now.

　　That look contained suppressed hatred.

　　It was as if she had robbed or taken something from her.

　　As a concubine's sister, Shen Yu did not greet her elder sister respectfully after entering the courtyard.

　　However, Shen Yuan was too lazy to act like the eldest daughter and teach her a lesson.

　　After all, Shen Yu in his previous life had already received the punishment he deserved.

　　As for this life——

　　She would try every possible means to cancel this marriage with Lu Chen.

　　As for what will happen to Shen Yu and Lu Chen in the future, it has nothing to do with her anymore.

　　As long as Shen Yu doesn't provoke her, she won't take the initiative to cause trouble.

　　But when Shen Yuan was about to leave the hanging flower hall of the courtyard with Biwu, Shen Yu ordered the maid to stop her.

　　Shen Yuan paused and asked calmly, "Second sister, what's the matter?"

　　Shen Yu also gradually restrained the emotions on his face, and his tone became quite sarcastic.

　　"Don't covet what's not yours."

　　Biwu was a person who could not keep her cool. Just as she was about to rush forward to refute Shen Yu, Shen Yuan immediately glared at Biwu.

　　Biwu immediately calmed down and didn't dare to act rashly again.

　　Shen Yuan then said something light and soft, but it made Shen Yu so angry that his eyes widened.

　　Her jet-black hair seemed to be pulled up one by one because of anger.

　　——"Something that is extremely precious to you may be worthless in the eyes of others."

　　——

　　As soon as Shen Yuan and Bi Wu left the courtyard, they heard a series of "crackling" sounds coming from inside.

　　The second girl, Shen Yu, was so angry that she smashed many bottles and jars.

　　While Bi Wu secretly sighed that she was wasting resources, she understood her master's thoughts from Shen Yuan's words just now.

　　The word "treasure" she mentioned definitely did not refer to this courtyard.

But it refers to the Earl of Kangping, Lu Chen.

　　Her master didn't want to marry Lu Chen.

　　And since she said this, she was determined to break off the engagement with Lu Chen.

　　Biwu couldn't help but sigh.

　　But given the temperament of Lu Chen's mother, Mrs. Lu, this marriage is not so easy to cancel.

　　——

　　In a blink of an eye, it was Grain in Ear.

　　Although the new courtyard allocated by Shen Hongliang to Shen Yuan was a bit remote and small, she still felt comfortable living there.

　　Although Bi Wu has been speaking up for her master recently, Shen Yuan seems to be in a good mood and is even quite concerned about the banquet in Shao Garden.

　　The old lady in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is about to celebrate her 80th birthday, and the Lu family has naturally sent invitations to several friendly families. The two legitimate daughters of the Shen family are among them.

　　Originally, the name of concubine's daughter Shen Yu was not on the invitation.

　　Because there is no definite plan for the marriage between Shen Yuan, Shen Yu and Lu Chen.

　　However, the old Duke's deceased third son, Lu Zhihui, Lu Zhiyun's third brother, had a wife named Kou, who was the cousin of Shen Yuan's stepmother Liu.

　　Shen Hongliang asked Liu to talk to Kou about this matter, and Kou added Shen Yu's name to the invitation.

　　——

　　At the banquet.

　　Shaoyuan is Lu Zhiyun's private property. Because it connects the Duke's Mansion and the Earl's Mansion on the east and west sides, the Lu family usually chooses this area to hold banquets.

　　Unlike those in Yangzhou, the gardens in the capital are generally more grand and spacious.

　　The scenery in Shao Garden is picturesque, with luxuriant trees and wide, clear and spacious ponds.

　　When the breeze blows by, the exquisitely carved wooden windows and pavilions are shaded by the interlaced and slanting shadows of the trees, giving off a sense of ancient and sparse elegance.

　　Shen Yuan had been to Shao Garden several times in her previous life. Every time she came here, she was impressed by the exquisite scenery of the garden.

　　Kou arranged the three Shen sisters and Lu Rong, the posthumous daughter of the old Duke Lu Hongang, to sit at the same table.

　　The direction Shen Yuan was facing was the Zhuoying Water Pavilion in Shao Garden.

　　It is built high above the surface of the pool. Because the old lady of the Lu family likes to listen to opera, two opera actors stand under the eaves of the hip-and-gable roof, singing opera.

　　The song they sang was the classic "Dream in the Garden".

　　——"I dream of the chirping of orioles, and the years have passed in vain."

　　——"Throwing away the remaining embroidery thread, your concern this spring is the same as last year."

　　Shen Yuan listened to these mournful lyrics and felt that this ordinary birthday banquet was actually sung with a somewhat lingering and sad flavor by these two opera actors.

　　She was originally immersed in the lingering sound of the opera, and she also noticed that the women at the same table had straightened their expressions and were looking in the same direction.

　　The person at the end of the sight is the owner of Shao Garden, Duke Lu Zhiyun.

　　Even though today was the birthday party of the old lady of the Lu family, Lu Zhiyun did not delay his court affairs. He had obviously just returned from the palace and was still wearing a dignified and majestic scarlet official uniform.

　　Looking at him from a distance, one can see that he has a slim waist and long legs, and his appearance is tall and dignified.

　　The man has a mature and profound temperament and an extremely handsome face.

　　Shen Yuan followed everyone's gaze and suddenly held his breath.

　　Her long, thick eyelashes trembled again and again.

　　Lu Zhiyun was walking towards the crowd with his subordinates.

　　Shen Yuan endured the suddenly accelerated heartbeat and quietly held the soft handkerchief that she had embroidered herself in her hand.

　　The author has something to say:

　　Let's start with the main text. Please help Sister Yuan to fish for Uncle Shuai and ask for some nutrient solution!!!