127: Chapter 80: The Same Old Trick 4 127: Chapter 80: The Same Old Trick 4 Being the butt of the joke without realizing it was naturally very foolish.
At the men’s seats, Zhou Yanbang couldn’t help but glance in Jiang Li’s direction from time to time.
Since Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao were sitting together, others assumed Zhou Yanbang’s gaze was meant for his fiancée, Jiang Youyao.
His companions teased him about it, and although he responded with laughter, his mind was elsewhere entirely.
Breaking off the engagement with Jiang Youyao and making Jiang Li his wife again had become an obsession for Zhou Yanbang.
Unfortunately, both the Marquis of Ningyuan’s wife and the Marquis himself were strongly opposed, causing a great deal of anger.
Zhou Yanbang knew his desire was absurd—the Jiang Family was not of insignificant standing; how could they accept a broken engagement, not once, but repeatedly?
But Jiang Li truly was different.
Every time he saw Jiang Li, Zhou Yanbang found new aspects of her to admire.
She was unlike any of the noble ladies in Yanjing City.
The more she distanced herself from him, the less he could accept it.
He knew that since her vindication, Miss Jiang the Second’s reputation had improved, and many noble families had begun to notice her.
Recently, during Emperor Hongxiao’s gift-giving ceremony, Zhou Yanbang had keenly sensed the eager looks from the young noblemen fixated on Jiang Li.
Talented, gentle in nature, and born with a clear and beautiful countenance, and coming from a family of considerable status, the Chief Minister’s Daughter was also favored by the current Emperor.
She was indeed among the top sought-after ladies in Yanjing City’s circle of nobility.
Zhou Yanbang felt an agonizing unease, fearing he might just miss his chance with Jiang Li.
However, his wedding with Jiang Youyao was already scheduled for the end of next winter.
Unless something unexpected happened, he could do nothing but pass by Jiang Li.
Zhou Yanbang was very unwilling to accept this.
In his frequent glances at Jiang Li, he was oblivious to the fact that his actions had caught the attention of another—Shen Ruyun.
Shen Ruyun was overjoyed to finally get the chance to see her beloved, but her joy quickly dissipated.
Even though she was in the same place as Zhou Yanbang, his gaze never turned her way, but remained fixed in the direction of Jiang Youyao.
Shen Ruyun was heartbroken.
Her affection for Zhou Yanbang had once been hindered by her lower status, but now that she was the sister of the Top Scholar and her brother had become an official, she could stand on equal ground with Zhou Yanbang.
However, he was already engaged to someone else.
If it were just an engagement, Shen Ruyun might have shrugged it off.
Yet, she could clearly see the infatuated affection in Zhou Yanbang’s eyes whenever he looked at Jiang Youyao, which meant he also had feelings for Jiang Youyao.
Her heart sank in an instant, and alongside her sorrow, jealousy and resentment surfaced.
She couldn’t help wishing that Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Youyao’s engagement would hit a snag, hoping the engagement would fall through.
Jiang Li could barely stomach her food, feeling nauseous at the sight of Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning.
However, the palace banquet had to continue, and she forced herself to eat despite her discomfort.
The palace banquet lasted for a long time.
Officials intermingled, proposing toasts and chatting about their bureaucratic lives, while their wives engaged in small talk, exchanging trivial stories from their respective households.
The young ladies and young masters, separated by the long screen dividing the men and women’s seating areas, would occasionally steal glances at each other.
Those who accidentally made eye contact quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened, yet secretly they took note of each other’s appearance and demeanor, planning to inquire further when they returned home.
It was a diverse and unique spectacle of life.
Between Prince Cheng and Emperor Hongxiao, there appeared to be brotherly respect, but the hidden undercurrents swirling beneath their relationship remained unknown to others.
The Empress Dowager was as serene as ever, while Empress Dowager Liu and the Empress conversed, Consort Li sat gently to the side, frequently pouring wine for the Emperor—a task not her own, yet she performed it naturally and affectionately.
The porcelain vases on the table held Apricot Blossom Wine.
Since the ladies could not hold their liquor well, the palace banquet offered only sweet fruit wines that were not intoxicating.
In front of Jiang Li was only a cup of tea; she hadn’t touched a drop of wine.
Ever since the incident during Mother Shen’s birthday celebration, Jiang Li had found herself regretting that if she hadn’t drunk that cup of wine back then, perhaps the situation would be different now.
She had decided to abstain from alcohol to avoid any potential mishaps, especially at grand events like a palace banquet, where she was determined not to make even the slightest mistake.