Chapter 027: Relentless Probing

Night had fallen, the moon hung high, and the stars were scattered across the sky. The Jiang residence was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of drums and music. The banquet was bustling with noise, and servants busied themselves serving dishes, creating an atmosphere of intense fervor.

Lu Yuting pulled Gu Nanshu toward the banquet table, his bright eyes fixed on the delicious food as he swallowed hard.

Lu Yanran, having just sat down, slapped Lu Yuting on the forehead and scolded him with a huff: "Wipe that drool away! You are a prince of the imperial family—how can you look like a beggar who hasn't eaten in days? How embarrassing!"

Lu Yuting rolled his eyes at Lu Yanran and retorted, "So what? Food is the heaven of the people; eating is the most important thing." As he spoke, he snatched up his chopsticks, eager to reach for the pork knuckle in the bowl.

Lu Chuanchuan, who was walking over, tapped Lu Yuting’s hand with his folding fan and smiled, admonishing him: "Your sister is right. You are a prince of the imperial family. The guests haven't all arrived yet, and you’re already digging in—isn't that a bit impolite?"

"Oh, fine, I'll wait then." Lu Yuting was more inclined to listen to Lu Chuanchuan; he set his chopsticks down and stared intently at the dishes on the table, waiting for everyone to be seated.

Gu Nanshu, who had been silent, found the scene quite amusing. Among the imperial Lu family, these few seemed to be the only ones without any airs or pretension. She wondered how those princes and princesses had managed to raise them. She pursed her lips and smiled, the unhappiness in her heart dissipating by half, no longer feeling so suppressed.

Beside her, Lu Zihao poured himself a drink and met Gu Nanshu’s eyes with a smile. He said boisterously, "Imperial Aunt, everyone didn't get to drink to their heart's content at the palace last time. Tonight, we must drink until we drop—you aren't allowed to run away early!"

Gu Nanshu smiled at Lu Zihao and agreed readily, "Fine! Until we drop. Whoever runs away first is a puppy."

In that instant, Gu Nanshu felt that only by being with these people could she truly find herself again, and her mood suddenly lifted.

Because her declaration about "drinking until we drop" had been quite loud, the younger generation, all fond of their wine, crowded around Gu Nanshu’s table. Everyone was familiar with the Princess of Beichen, and the atmosphere of exchanging pleasantries became lively, drawing curious glances from other tables.

Lu Heng, sitting not far away, could not help but cast a glance over. His eldest brother, Lu Hanyuan, laughed and said to him, "Tenth Brother, your Princess is quite a treasure. All those brats and girls love to crowd around her, leaving you to keep us company instead. Why don't you go over and join in the fun?"

Lu Heng withdrew his gaze from Gu Nanshu and looked at Lu Hanyuan, saying indifferently, "No need. She has always liked being lively with the children; let her be."

The Third Princess Consort, who sat nearby and was fond of gossip, heard this and teased, "Then you must hurry, Tenth Brother. You came all the way back from Wangbei under imperial decree to marry, and in two months, you will have to return to guard the city, won't you? Use these two months to conceive a child with your Princess; otherwise, once you leave and you are separated by distance, having an heir will be delayed even further."

Lu Heng frowned slightly, turning the wine cup in his hand. He thought to himself that having a child with Gu Nanshu was impossible. Furthermore, after learning that Gu Nanshu was Feng Sanniang, he was even less inclined to consider it.

All the guests had taken their seats. Jiang Mubai and Feng Yuxi had finished their bridal ceremony and were now coming out to offer toasts. Originally, Feng Yuxi was supposed to toast everyone, but given her special status and her pregnancy, the Grand Princess had ordered the toast to be waived. Thus, in front of the guests, she only offered a cup of tea before returning to her room.

Jiang Mubai, however, carried a wine pot alone and began offering toasts to the imperial elders. After circling the room, it was three-quarters of an hour later when he arrived at Gu Nanshu’s table.

Gu Nanshu’s table was full of drinkers. As an elder, she had been toasted incessantly by the youngsters, and now her face was flushed. Having drunk quite a bit, she saw double in her hazy state, but her mind remained clear enough to handle a few more pots.

The youngsters at the table had begun to ramble, especially Lu Chuanchuan, who could not hold his liquor; he rested his chin on the table and began to snore. Lu Yanran shoved him hard, her face red, and shouted, "Lu Chuanchuan, how are you so unmanly? You collapsed after only five cups?"

At this moment, Jiang Mubai walked over with the wine pot. His eyes fell on Gu Nanshu first. He squinted slightly, then relaxed, smiling warmly: "I apologize for the poor hospitality, Imperial Aunt. I have only just come to offer you a toast; I hope you do not take offense."

Gu Nanshu looked up at him with a forced smile: "It is fine. Your sincerity is what counts, Minister Jiang."

Jiang Mubai poured himself a drink and raised his glass to her with a composed smile: "Then I shall drink to your health first, Imperial Aunt. Please, drink at your leisure."

Gu Nanshu poured herself a drink as well. Just as she was about to stand to return the toast, Jiang Mubai leaned in close to her. He brought his face to her ear, the corners of his mouth curling up, and whispered softly: "Sanniang..."

He was manic and bewitching, completely disregarding social norms. His gaze drifted to Lu Heng not far away, who was chatting happily with guests and not looking their way. Seeing this, Jiang Mubai smiled even more recklessly.

The way Jiang Mubai called her "Sanniang" caused Gu Nanshu’s spine to stiffen. Panic flashed in her eyes, and she gripped her wine cup so tightly her knuckles turned white. She said sharply, "Minister Jiang, please show some respect! Do not stand so close to this Princess! And who is Sanniang? Are you drunk, Minister Jiang?"

Jiang Mubai did not pull back. Lowering his voice further, he said with despicable malice: "Your nephew is indeed drunk, please forgive me. Sanniang was my former wife. When she was alive, she loved sweet osmanthus the most. Look, Imperial Aunt, are the sweet osmanthus flowers in my residence beautiful? Do they smell good? It’s a pity... Feng Sanniang was nothing but a slut! She is unworthy of looking at the courtyard of flowers I planted for her with my own hands."

Jiang Mubai was doing this on purpose. He was deliberately testing and provoking her in his madness, wanting to see her reaction and discover who she really was.

The word "slut" was more than Gu Nanshu could bear. Her right hand tightened around the wine cup until her knuckles were ghostly white. She was on the verge of exploding with rage. She held back, suppressing the urge to stand up and strike him down right then and there!

But she could not. Even if she slapped him now, as an Imperial Aunt, how could she explain to everyone why she had struck the groom? She had never realized Jiang Mubai was so insidious and cunning, a complete sociopath who had lost all sense of morality.

But she would no longer let him manipulate her at will. She clenched her hands into fists, and her right fist slammed onto the table with a loud thud.

"Minister Jiang, you are incredibly bold!" Gu Nanshu exclaimed in fury.

Seeing her burning with rage, Jiang Mubai quickly backed away, stood straight, and acted as if nothing had happened. He poured himself another glass of wine, drank it, and walked away with a smile, his sleeves fluttering.