Chapter 5: Taking Center Stage at the Feast, I Eat and Take with Ease

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Suddenly, the tightly shut gates of the prince’s mansion creaked open from within. Immediately after, the side door of the mansion swung open, and an old maid stepped out. Chu Li’s thoughts snapped back as she looked up, recognizing the woman as the elder maid in charge of menial tasks within the You Palace—a peripheral figure who rarely appeared before her and seldom exchanged more than a few words in three years.

“That’s Aunt Hong, responsible for all the rough and dirty work in the household, nowhere near as influential as the other maids. Why is she the one coming out to greet us?” Qiu Yi whispered quietly into Chu Li’s ear.

The wide-open side door seemed strangely eerie.

Frowning, Chu Li suddenly recalled that after last night’s event, Fu Heng had mentioned the sedan chair would be carried in through the side gate.

Why make such a fuss about it being common knowledge, only to have her enter through the side door? What was Fu Heng’s intention?

Chu Li knew well that here, the hierarchy of age and status, legitimacy, and social rank was extremely strict.

Many masters would carry their concubines into the mansion through the side entrance, some even through the back.

Those who were truly unpresentable were sometimes brought in through back alleys deep into the night, hidden from public view.

But what was going on now? There were so many commoners watching, not to mention numerous dignitaries and officials who had come to celebrate.

Even before entering the mansion, that woman had already lost much dignity.

Is this what Fu Heng meant when he insisted he had to marry her?

Or has Fu Heng always been someone who doesn’t care about a woman’s honor?

It was the same when she had entered the mansion years ago, and it was the same today. Chu Li was becoming increasingly bewildered by Fu Heng’s actions.

At that moment, the steward of the mansion stood atop the main gate platform and loudly announced:

“Ladies and gentlemen, you are honored guests. First of all, thank you for coming. However... the prince has instructed that there will be no formal reception today. To those officials who came to offer congratulations, please understand.”

“Our prince is highly esteemed by His Majesty, and the whole city is allowed to celebrate. If you don’t mind, please stay and join in the festivities.”

“Servants, prepare the feast!”

As soon as the steward finished speaking, the group waiting quietly in the alley rushed onto the main street, setting up tables and arranging dishes.

In no time, the entire broad street, stretching from south to north, was filled with banquet tables—a grand spectacle indeed.

The aroma of food instantly jolted Chu Li awake. She pushed aside all her worries, grabbed the still stunned Qiu Yi, and briskly strode over to the red table set directly opposite the mansion’s main gates.

She plopped down in one of the two seats facing the gates.

The prime seat at the banquet!

“Wow, these two youngsters are quick on their feet, grabbing the best seats first,” the commoners gradually realized and hurried to find seats nearby, afraid they’d miss out.

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“Mistress, aren’t you worried? If the prince comes out later, won’t sitting here... mean locking eyes with him?”

Chu Li wasn’t afraid at all; she was already making herself comfortable.

“What are you waiting for? Eat up! The prince is generously offering the wedding feast; we must show some respect.”

Qiu Yi watched her mistress eat with a mix of admiration and sympathy.

The princess must be deeply hurt, deliberately disguising her feelings with such ease—turning sorrow into appetite.

Those dining at the same table watched in amazement as Chu Li ate rapidly. They noticed she was eyeing the pricier dishes and even packed some of the finest pastries into prepared greaseproof paper for later.

They widened their eyes in astonishment.

This girl came prepared!

The commoners were engrossed in the feast, paying no attention to the lonely sedan chair.

Fang Siyu was utterly neglected but didn’t mind, her heart set on the prince’s arrival. Nervousness made her oblivious to the commotion outside.

Until Aunt Hong stepped forward, face stern, and said curtly:

“Carry her inside.”

A cart with food reached the door, and Aunt Hong gave the order.

The sedan chair was lifted again, and only then did Fang Siyu realize something was wrong.

“Wait!”

“Where’s the prince? He hasn’t come yet, and I haven’t crossed the fire basin.”

These wretched servants knew no manners, trying to dismiss her like this?

Don’t think she, raised for years at the frontier military camp, didn’t know the rules: a new bride must be led by her groom across the fire basin, with elders officiating, before bowing thrice in the main hall—that’s the true wedding ceremony.

Fang Siyu grew anxious, clutching tightly a military token that glowed an eerie red in her hands, though she didn’t realize it.

Where was the prince? Could it be...

Could the official wife in the mansion be trying to intimidate her, purposely instructing the servants to sabotage her and make her look bad?

Aunt Hong glanced at the steward expressionlessly. The steward waved dismissively and turned to close the mansion gates.

The commoners continued their feast, enjoying the spectacle.

“Tsk, what’s going on? The prince doesn’t seem to care much about this lady. Looks like she is indeed just a concubine.”

“No wonder the prince didn’t host a banquet inside the mansion. Probably because she’s only a concubine, no need to invite officials to celebrate.”

“Right, just a servant concubine, not even a secondary wife. Considering the grand spread, it’s already quite a lot—better than that official wife.”

Chu Li listened quietly, her fingers moving faster to pick up food.

Yes, that’s right. She may have a better status, but so what?

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Chu Li thought: The feast I missed back then, I will make up for it thoroughly today!

In short, one word: I will never lose out!

Meanwhile, Fang Siyu, still lost in conspiratorial thoughts, was not indulged by Aunt Hong, who led the servants forcefully through the side door, ignoring Fang Siyu’s furious protests inside the sedan chair.

The bearers moved swiftly, staggering as they carried her into the mansion, heading with Aunt Hong to a secluded courtyard.

Fang Siyu was tossed about, beads and flowers in her hair falling off, looking utterly disheveled.

The side gate closed behind them, leaving only the sounds of feasting outside, as if the bridal sedan chair had never existed.

Chu Li finished eating and elegantly wiped her mouth, saluting the commoners at her table:

“Friends, I’m full and will take my leave. See you tomorrow.”

***

Fang Siyu was carried along winding paths for an unknown length of time before finally being set down again.

Clearly, she had not been brought to the main hall. The surroundings were silent, with no sign of a wedding about to happen.

Aunt Hong waved, and the sedan bearers immediately lifted the curtain.

“Miss, we’ve arrived. Please get down.”

Sensing something was wrong, Fang Siyu tore off the red veil and stepped out, confirming this was not the main hall, and the prince was nowhere in sight.

“Where is the prince? How dare you servants treat me like this, I—”

“Miss!” Aunt Hong cut her off sharply.

“This is the prince’s order. Other maids will come shortly to explain the rules. Without the prince’s permission, you cannot leave this courtyard.”

With that, Aunt Hong dismissed everyone without even a proper farewell from Fang Siyu.

“Prince, the lady has entered the mansion. As per your instructions, she has been temporarily settled in the secluded corner courtyard,” Aunt Hong reported to the study.

Aunt Hong never speculated on the prince’s thoughts—just as three years ago, when he suddenly brought home a young girl, closed the doors, had a formal wedding in the main hall, and made her his wife.

He even went to the ancestral hall. The entire mansion whispered, but only she believed that the prince had his reasons.

Fu Heng looked up at the sky, a single thought flashing through his mind: Why was that lazy girl still not up? Had he been too rough last night?

Suddenly, a fierce wind blew through. Hei Sha, who had appeared without warning, knelt heavily before Fu Heng, his expression more panicked than ever.

“Prince, the princess, she... she’s gone missing!”