pdf-ebookys Chapter 165 Initial Confrontation
Chapter 165 Initial Confrontation
"While I still treat you as a human being, try to act like one."
Shen Tang had a smile on his face, and although he looked extremely kind, the words he said made everyone present change their expressions.
Especially Ji Ruhui's face turned red.
"Shen Tang, how dare you say that to me! How audacious!"
She was the county lady personally appointed by the emperor, and she was also the savior of the emperor, but Shen Tang actually didn't take her seriously.
Ji Ruhui has always been arrogant and rude among the noble ladies because of her status.
Therefore, there are many people who don't like her.
The enemy of your enemy is your friend.
Seeing Ji Ruhui being humiliated, some people were shocked and angry, while others were secretly happy.
"Are you some extraordinary person? Is there anything I can't say to you?
You are just a county lady, and I am a marquis. According to the rules, you should bow to me."
The county lady's rank was naturally not as high as that of the marquis. Just now, when everyone stood up to salute, only Ji Ruhui stood still.
Shen Tang doesn't care who you are. With her current status in Da Qi, let alone a county lady, even if a princess comes, she will only think about making friends with her.
I don’t know whose prince’s daughter this is, but she is so stupid and ignorant.
"Why, the county lady doesn't know how to perform formalities? Do you still need someone to teach you? Didn't you just mock me for not knowing etiquette?"
Shen Tang spoke directly, his eyes cold.
She had no intention of being magnanimous. Moreover, today was her first banquet. If she failed to perform well here, the news that Ning'an Marquis lost to Jiashan County Lady would have spread throughout the capital before the banquet was over.
Everyone held their breath; even Mrs. Zhu, who wanted to act as a peacemaker, held back what she was about to say.
Realizing that everyone was staring at her, Ji Ruhui felt ashamed and angry.
She hadn't been so embarrassed in all these years. Even when she was just the niece of a low-ranking official, she had never been humiliated like this.
"It seems that the Princess of Jiashan County has some objections to me, the Marquis, which means she has some objections to the Emperor."
Ji Ruhui's eyebrows jumped. It was really abominable that Shen Tang used the emperor to pressure her.
But now, everyone is looking at her, and she is in a difficult situation.
Ji Ruhui curled her lips and bowed reluctantly.
The young ladies looked at Shen Tang with respect.
Although she was a woman from the countryside and dressed simply, she made people feel unreasonable pressure.
With Ji Ruhui's brief bow of her head, the turmoil surrounding the entrance finally came to an end.
Mrs. Zhu bowed to Ji Ruhui, and Shen Tang seemed not to pursue the matter any further, so she finally felt relieved.
"It is an honor for the Zhu family that the Marquis can come to this plum blossom viewing banquet. Marquis, let me say that although you are knowledgeable and experienced, my plum garden is also one of the best in the capital.
Why don't you let me lead the way for you, Lord Marquis, and take a look at the Plum Garden?"
Mrs. Zhu tried to smooth things over with a smile.
Zhu Shiwen behind him heard this and came out, bowing.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Zhu."
Zhu Shiwen only felt that Shen Tang exuded gentle kindness, which was completely different from the harsh voice he had just spoken to Ji Ruhui. The smile on his face was not only warm but also more genuine.
Zhu Shiwen led Shen Tang ahead, and the other noble ladies followed behind them.
The plum garden is not far from the warm room, and it can be reached in a short walk.
The Zhu family's plum garden is very large, occupying almost one-third of the Zhu mansion's area.
In the past few days, snow has been falling intermittently in Beijing and has not melted yet.
The wintersweets in the snow are white with yellow, yellow with green; the red plum blossoms are as gorgeous as fire; the white plum blossoms are pure and flawless... There are rows of plum trees, with no end in sight, exuding a clear and cool fragrance.
Shen Tang didn't know much about plum blossoms, but when he saw the garden full of plum blossoms, he felt a lot more relaxed.
Zhu Shiwen walked beside Shen Tang and felt the comfortable and calm aura from Shen Tang, and she felt much more relaxed.
Moreover, Zhu Shiwen knew that since Shen Tang had chosen to attend their Zhu family's banquet, she could only say that even if Shen Tang had no intention of making friends with the Zhu family, he would definitely not make enemies with them.
Thinking of what her father and mother had told her today, Zhu Shiwen smiled and said:
"If the Marquis likes these plum blossoms, I'll send someone to pick a few of the best plum blossoms and send them to the Marquis' Mansion."
"Thank you very much, Miss Zhu. I am the same age as you, so you can just call me by my name."
Sensing the little girl's desire to please, Shen Tang spoke gently.
"This is against the rules."
Thinking of Shen Tang's attitude towards Ji Ruhui, Zhu Shiwen was happy, but also a little worried.
"If we follow the rules in everything we do, how can we still be friends?"
Be friends?
Ning Anhou said he wanted to be friends with her!
Zhu Shiwen's eyes shine brightly,
"Then you can just call me Ah Shi. Can I call you Ah Tang?"
Zhu Shiwen was very happy to get Shen Tang's approval, with her eyes curved.
Then he immediately pulled two girls of the same age from behind.
"Atang, these are my two best friends. This is Zhong Lingxiu, the deputy commander of the Wucheng Military Command, and this is Huang Siya, the son of the Minister of War."
After hearing the introduction, Shen Tang understood.
These are all children of military generals.
When the two little girls were pulled over, they were still in a daze. After hearing Zhu Shiwen's words, they saluted Shen Tang.
As a result, seeing that Shen Tang was so easy to talk to, he couldn't help but feel happy.
Except for those who came to watch the show, almost all the others who attended the banquet today had received instructions from their families and wanted to make friends with Shen Tang.
The two looked at Zhu Shiwen with gratitude.
Shen Tang saw all of this.
There was a reason why Shen Tang chose the Taiwei family among all the posts.
General Zhu was a staunch royalist. No matter how the aristocratic families and the upright families fought against each other, the Zhu family always remained neutral.
Therefore, the Zhu family has a very deep family background and is highly appreciated by Emperor Jing.
Shen Tang was unwilling to join the fight between the two factions, so among the many banquets, he chose the Zhu family.
Soon, Shen Tang was surrounded by many girls who wanted to make friends with him.
Shen Tang looked at them. Although she knew that many of them came to please her, how could she not know whether they would be of use to her in the future?
Because Ji Ruhui lost face, she just followed behind everyone. Now seeing that Shen Tang was surrounded by people, she became even more angry.
"He's just a peasant who got lucky and grew something good."
Mud-legged peasant.
Ji Ruhui looked at Shen Tang, who was smiling under a plum tree not far away. Her face was more beautiful than the plum blossoms, and she curled the corners of her mouth.
Laugh, I hope you will still be able to laugh later.
"The plum blossoms in the Grand Marshal's residence are truly magnificent.
It's a rare opportunity to come here, so why don't you sisters write a poem on the theme of plum blossoms and see whose poem is the best."
"Composing a poem isn't that difficult. Since it's a competition, there should be some prizes. So, I'll go first. This is the bracelet my mother picked out for me on my tenth birthday."
This proposal was agreed by many people.
After all, this is how they came to banquets in the past.
However, Shen Tang looked at the girls around him who seemed to lack interest, and then looked at the girl who made the suggestion.
I understood it instantly.