The banquet continued, but everyone's focus was no longer on the banquet or the apricot wine.
The madams and young ladies present had originally thought that this banquet was very sumptuous, and the taste was not bad.
The apricot wine tasted sweet when they first drank it, and they felt that it was quite good.
However, after Shi Qingluo commented, they seemed to have felt that the meat in their mouths had a fishy taste.
After drinking the apricot wine, there was indeed a bitter taste lingering on the tip of their tongue.
Madam Tu was infuriated again when she saw everyone's reaction.
All of this had been caused by this village woman, Shi Qingluo.
Her plan had gone wrong today.
She couldn't help but curse Ruan Songling in her heart for telling her that Shi Qingluo was a village woman who was easy to deal with.
She was really too stupid. No wonder Prince Jin divorced her.
If it weren't for the fact that she had helped her before and she knew her weakness, she would definitely ignore her.
She had originally intended to embarrass Shi Qingluo in order to fulfill his promise to Ruan Songling.
But now she hated Shi Qingluo.
Shi Qingluo stepped on her face to the ground today without looking at her.
She couldn't take this lying down.
At this point, she had completely lost interest in continuing the banquet, and her words to the other madams were somewhat perfunctory.
At the end of the banquet, Madam Tu perked up and prepared to personally send these madams and young ladies out.
As soon as they walked out of the banquet hall's courtyard, two young men walked over.
When the two men saw this group of madams and young ladies, they were stunned, as if they were surprised.
One of the handsome young men smiled and walked over.
He greeted Madam Tu with a smile. "Mother, are you entertaining an important guest?"
When Madam Tu saw her youngest son, a loving smile appeared on her face. "That's right. The flower-viewing banquet here has ended. I'll send all the madams off."
Then she introduced him to the madams and young ladies.
"This is my youngest son, Tu Lihuan."
Many of the madams and young ladies present had seen Tu Lihuan before.
The young ladies were reserved and did not speak, while the madams greeted him with a smile.
"Your family's young master is truly a fine-looking man."
"Is he married yet?" One of the ladies asked with a smile.
"Not yet," Madam Tu said with a smile. "I've been finding one for him recently."
At the mention of marriage, Tu Lihuan looked a little embarrassed.
He hurriedly introduced the young man behind her to Madam Tu and the others.
"Mother, this is the fifth prince."
Madam Tu and the other madams and young ladies were all shocked.
They had only thought that he looked unfamiliar because they had never seen him before.
They had thought that it was a friend that Tu Lihuan had brought back.
They had not expected it to be the fifth prince.
Hence, they all bowed.
Liang Hengyu smiled and said, "Ladies, please rise!"
He then looked at Shi Qingluo and Xi Rong. "Qingluo, cousin!"
"Fifth prince, you're late." Shi Qingluo raised an eyebrow and smiled.
This guy was definitely here to watch a show, but it was too late.
"You guys are leaving?" Liang Hengyu laughed as he touched his nose.
He had heard from Xi Rui and Liang Youxiao that there would definitely be a good show to watch at the Tu residence today.
The two of them had wanted to come and watch the show, but unfortunately, they hadn't invited any male guests.
Originally, he wasn't very interested, but after being nagged at by the two of them, he suddenly wanted to come and take a look.
It just so happened that after he came to Northern City, he inadvertently got to know the Tu family's legitimate young master, and they met again on the road today.
He had deliberately got him to invite himself to his manor as a guest.
He just didn't expect that the show would end so soon after he arrived.
He had no idea if Shi Qingluo had caused any havoc in the manor.
It was a pity that he was late.
Xi Rong rolled her eyes at Liang Hengyu. "Then you can stay here as a guest. We'll go back first."
Her younger cousin had been hanging out with Xi Rui and Liang Youxiao for a long time, so he was more and more fond of watching shows and joining in the fun.
Hearing the three of them conversing, the madams present were a little shocked.
It was not a big deal to hear Xi Rong and the fifth prince talking like this.
After all, the two were cousins.
However, the fifth prince had actually addressed Shi Qingluo as Qingluo, and Shi Qingluo had spoken in a very casual manner.
It felt as if they were not just acquaintances but were rather close, as if they had a good relationship.
Today, Princess Fubao had completely defied their imagination and understanding of her.
After that, the two parties didn't say anything more.
Madam Tu sent the madams and young ladies off.
Tu Lihuan and Liang Hengyu went to his courtyard as well.
However, after walking for a while, Tu Lihuan turned around and looked at Shi Qingluo's back.
Soon, his eyes fell on Xiao Baili, who was next to her.
"What are you looking at?" Liang Hengyu asked with a smile.
When Tu Lihuan heard his question, he retracted his gaze and said with a smile, "I've always heard of Princess Fubao, so I'm a little curious about her."
Liang Hengyu smiled. "She was indeed a precious gem."
The two of them chatted as they walked, and Tu Lihuan even mentioned the Xiao siblings as if he had unintentionally done so.
"Were those beside Princess Fubao her sister-in-law and the Southern Marquis just now?"
"Yes!" Liang Hengyu replied.
As a member of the royal family, he was not stupid.
Liang Hengyu had some guesses in his heart and deliberately said, "Qingluo is very good to her sister-in-law, she will bring her wherever she goes."
Tu Lihuan asked curiously, "Is the fifth prince familiar with Miss Xiao?"
Liang Hengyu sneered in his heart. He had guessed right.
He replied, "We're not very close, but I know her. We've talked before. Why?"
Tu Lihuan laughed. "Nothing much. I'm just a little curious about how the sister-in-law that Princess Fubao had groomed would be like."
Liang Hengyu laughed. "She has a good personality. She's innocent and cute. She also has good culinary skills.
Tu Lihuan's eyes flickered when he heard this. To be able to receive such praise from the fifth prince, this lady must be very good.
"Could it be that you are interested in this young lady, fifth prince?" he asked jokingly.
Liang Hengyu shook his head. "No, I don't. I have a fiancée."
The two of them continued to talk about the Xiao family, and Tu Lihuan asked about Xiao Baili a few times.
Liang Hengyu avoided the main point and replied casually.
Without a good show to watch, he did not have much interest in staying in the manor.
After admiring one of Tu Lihuan's ancient paintings in the study room, he said that he had something to do and left.
Tu Lihuan personally sent Liang Hangyu out of the Tu residence.
After the horse carriage left and Tu Lihuan returned home, his smiling face instantly turned cold.
Then he returned to his own courtyard.
Because his status was different, he could only always cater to the fifth prince.
He did not like this feeling, and a vicious feeling grew in his heart.
"I'm not in a good mood right now," he said to the butler after entering the courtyard.
The butler understood.
"Fourth young master, please wait a moment. I'll make the arrangements immediately."
After a while, the screams of men and women could be heard from Tu Lihuan's courtyard.
At this moment, Madam Tu's maidservant walked into the courtyard.
She saw Fourth Young Master Tu whipping the servant boys and girls who had been bought not long ago and were tied up in the courtyard.
She knew that although he looked masculine and handsome, in reality, he was more ruthless.
He would beat the servants as long as he was in a bad mood.
She was already used to it.
As long as Fourth Young Master Tu was in a good mood, it was a blessing for his servants.
Tu Lihuan threw the whip to the ground when he was tired.
"Fourth young master, Madam would like to see you!" She said it respectfully.