Farewell Flower Festival

Soon it was Prime Minister Shang’s birthday.

Mu Tianling took Chaoyan and Furong, Qianfeng and Feiyu to the Prime Minister's Mansion, while Eunuch Wu stayed at the mansion to take care of daily affairs.

Originally, Hongmei should have gone. Yesterday evening, Eunuch Wu came over and told Hongmei about it, and Furong happened to see it.

So she secretly tampered with the tea that Furong was drinking, and then Hongmei had a diarrheal upset at night. Now she is lying in bed and unable to get up, so she can't go with them.

Chaoyan knew that it was most likely Furong's doing, but she didn't expose her. She was happy to watch the two of them fight each other.

When they set out, Mu Tianling asked Chaoyan to get on the carriage, but didn't call Furong. Furong followed the carriage with Jadeite and Amber. She was very dissatisfied and secretly made up her mind to make a big splash at the birthday banquet so that Mu Tianling would look at her with new eyes.

Feiyu and Qianfeng rode in front to lead the way. When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, the butler who was welcoming guests saw that it was the carriage from Prince Ling's Mansion and was a little surprised, but he couldn't send people back since they were already here.

As soon as Mu Tianling's carriage arrived, the carriage from Prince Rui's mansion also arrived.

The butler first took people to welcome the Second Prince Mu Tianqi, leaving Mu Tianling aside, and Chaoyan complained in his heart that he looked down on others.

Mu Tianqi also brought two personal bodyguards. The older one was called Zhou Li, who was about 30 years old. Chao Yan had met him when she first sent Mu Tianling to the school in Hanlin Garden.

To be honest, she was a little afraid of the other person, not because he looked ferocious. On the contrary, his face always looked respectful and one could not sense any hostility from him.

But Chaoyan still remembers the flash of viciousness in the other person's eyes when they first met, just like a bottomless ditch lurking beneath the calm water. Her intuition told her that this person was a bit dangerous and she should try to avoid contact with him if possible.

The younger one was called Zheng Huai, who was in his early twenties. Chao Yan had met him once or twice by chance. He seemed to be the same type as Fei Yu, not talkative or smiling, and one could tell at first glance that he was a man of great martial arts skills.

Mu Tianqi and Mu Tianling greeted each other. Furong took two steps forward and stood in front of Chaoyan to greet Mu Tianqi. Her voice was more charming than that of a dodder flower, and she was easily entangled by it as her self-control was a little off.

However, Chaoyan saw that the Second Prince did not change his expression and just raised his hand politely to ask her and Furong to excuse themselves. It seemed that he was not going to fall for the beauty trick, or maybe he just didn't like Furong's type at all.

When the butler led the group into the mansion, Mu Tianqi greeted him, "It's been a while since Fourth Brother took office at the Nine Punishments Department. Are you used to it?"

Mu Tianling replied: "I don't have much to do on weekdays, so I'm quite free."

"I heard that there is a Governor Yan in there, who is very good at solving cases, but he has an impatient temper and easily comes into conflict with others. I hope he hasn't made things difficult for my fourth brother?" Mu Tianqi said.

Mu Tianling replied: "He takes care of his business, I take care of mine, we don't interfere with each other."

As the two were talking, Chao Yan caught a glimpse of Furong's eyes stealing glances at Mu Tianqi, and whispered to her, "Today is the Prime Minister's birthday, let's all behave ourselves and not embarrass His Highness, or else His Highness won't take us out again in the future."

Furong said, "Sister, just take care of yourself. Speaking of which, you probably didn't have the chance to see such a big scene in the palace before, so don't be scared."

Chao Yan smiled back at her and was too lazy to say anything else.

After entering, many guests had already arrived. Seeing Mu Tianqi, the wise prince, they all came over to greet him. Seeing that no one was interested in Mu Tianling, Chao Yan wanted to let him take a rest first to avoid embarrassment, but someone came over to chat with him.

The man had kind eyes, a round face and a plump figure, and looked very cheerful. He was between 40 and 50 years old, well-dressed, and obviously the master of a wealthy family.

Chaoyan was just about to quietly ask Eunuch Wu who the visitor was, but when she turned around she realized that Eunuch Wu was not there.

"Your Highness is still very young, but the Emperor has already handed over the Nine Penal Department to you. Your future is limitless. I will have to rely on you more in the future."

"You are too polite, sir. You are the backbone of the country. I will have to rely on you for support in the future."

After exchanging a few polite compliments, the other party left. Chao Yan quietly asked who Mu Tianling was, and he said he was Liu Shangshu from the Ministry of Revenue. Chao Yan was a little surprised. She didn't expect that the other party was a Shangshu. She thought he was some local tyrant who wanted to curry favor with the Prime Minister's Mansion.

After Minister Liu left, several people came over one after another to greet them, and Mu Tianling responded politely.

After a commotion, the housekeeper led Mu Tianqi, Mu Tianling and the others to the private room on the second floor. Mu Tianyuan was already there. He had been leaning on the railing watching the movement downstairs. After people came over, he called Mu Tianqi to come and sit down, and ignored Mu Tianling and didn't bother to pay any attention to him.

Chaoyan thought that the Crown Princess's discipline seemed to be somewhat effective, and the mischievous Crown Prince had finally learned what it meant to keep out of other people's way.

"Third brother hasn't come back yet?" Mu Tianyuan asked casually.

Mu Tianqi said, "I heard that the matter has been completed. I guess he will be back in two days." At this point, he explained to Mu Tianling, "A few days ago, my father asked my third brother to inspect the river bank repairs. I heard that my third brother also reorganized the military affairs there."

Mu Tianyuan said: "Second brother, why are you telling him all this? He doesn't understand the affairs of the court anyway, so it's useless to tell him."

Mu Tianling said: "Your Highness is right. How can I, an idle person, understand what is going on in the court? Your Highness is busy with all kinds of affairs and has lost a lot of weight."

Mu Tianyuan said proudly: "I am very busy every day, unlike you who have nothing to do every day after eating."

How can I not be busy when everything is arranged clearly by the Crown Princess every day? Chaoyan smiled secretly and caught a glimpse of someone coming in.

Seeing two people walking in one after the other, she was delighted at first but then avoided their gaze, not wanting to make eye contact with the latter.

Seeing that Zhao Yan was deliberately avoiding him, Han Lie deliberately greeted her and said, "How delicious were the wontons last time? I'll treat you next time."

Mu Tianling's expression darkened slightly. He glanced at Zhao Yan and asked casually, "When did you invite me?"

Before Chaoyan opened her mouth, Han Lie came over and said, "I saw Xiaolian a few days ago." He paused here, as if he was going to say that Xiaolianzi changed his words again, "Miss Xiaolian was alone on the street, and I was afraid that she would be kidnapped, so I treated her to a bowl of wontons," and asked Chaoyan, "You seemed to be in a bad mood that day, what happened?"

Chao Yan wanted to sew the man's mouth shut with a needle. After calming down for a while, she said, "My memory is not very good. I have long forgotten what happened so long ago. Please don't take such trivial matters to heart, Second Young Master."

Han Lie clicked his tongue twice: "You are still as sharp-tongued as ever. It would be interesting if you were my maid."

Asagao thought that was wishful thinking.