Chapter 705: Sitting on Pins and Needles

Xie Jin and Xuanyuan Yao stayed in Jin Garden for four days, completely ignoring the heated discussions from the outside world. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Xie Jin invited the famous young masters of the imperial capital to come to Xie Mansion for a small gathering.

No matter how badly things fermented in the past two days, Xie Jin is still the legitimate son of the Xie family. Who dares not to come to Xie Jiuye's invitation? Besides, in addition to being the ninth master of the Xie family, he is also the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, holding the power of the third rank, and is also a favorite of the king - at least on the surface.

He acts without scruples, and there is no benefit in offending him.

It's called flower appreciation, but when men are together, they either talk about their studies, their official careers, or talk about everything, but the flower appreciation can be ignored throughout the whole process. It's just that what happened in the past two days is a bit special, which makes people lose interest in talking about their studies and official careers for a while, and just feel like sitting on pins and needles.

"Young Master, Young Master Mo is here."

Xie Jin was sitting in the flower hall facing the lake in the back garden of Jinyuan. The young masters who had arrived were sitting quietly drinking tea. This place was cool in summer and really cold in winter. The young masters couldn't help but want to tidy up their clothes.

When they heard the servant's report, everyone was slightly startled for a moment, thinking that it was Young Master Mo Xuanwu of the Mo family.

Because the Mo family is one of the four major families, although Mo Xuanwu has been a little quiet in the past two years, the importance of the Mo family is still not to be underestimated. Given Xie Jin's status, it is likely that he would invite Mo Xuanwu to be his guest.

However, everyone was wrong. The person who came was actually Mo Lingan, the son of a mere Minister of Works.

Xie Jin smiled lightly: "Set up a seat for Young Master Mo."

"Yes."

Mo Lingan, wearing a brocade robe, walked along the corridor with brisk steps and a bright smile on his face like a warm spring breeze. It was obvious that he was in a good mood.

He walked into the flower hall calmly and nodded slightly to Xie Jin and everyone.

"Your Majesty's granting of marriage is truly an honor. Ling'an would like to congratulate you first. Master Xie Jiu is indeed a favorite of the emperor. This unprecedented honor is truly enviable." Mo Ling'an said, smiling as he presented a pair of mandarin duck pillows. "I came in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare. I will send you some better gifts on your wedding day in the future."

As soon as the words fell, the hall instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone looked at each other, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

They had been sitting for so long, and no one dared to bring up this sensitive topic. Everyone pretended to be stupid and acted as if they knew nothing. They didn't expect Mo Ling'an to be so bold, as if he was afraid that the world would not be in chaos.

Xie Jin raised his hand and asked someone to accept it: "Thank you for your trouble."

Mo Ling'an sat down on the side, fanning himself, and looked up at the faces in the hall that were not unfamiliar but definitely not very familiar, and smiled faintly: "Everyone came quite early."

Everyone's expressions were subtle.

The marriage granted by the imperial decree is now making a lot of noise outside, and the Ninth Master of the Xie Family has become a laughing stock. They are always nervous when they are invited to be guests today.

In front of outsiders, they can talk and laugh at others easily and without any guilt, but in front of the main person, they will inevitably feel guilty. So when they heard Mo Lingan making fun of the marriage granted by the imperial decree so openly in front of everyone, and even arrogantly offering a mandarin duck pillow, everyone was instantly surprised and almost unbelievable.

"Ninth Master, don't you want to introduce them?" Mo Lingan looked at the uncomfortable expressions of everyone and turned to look at Xie Jin, "Are these people not all empty-handed?"

When these words came out, everyone's expression was inevitably stern again, and they looked at Mo Lingan as if they were looking at a monster.

If they didn't come empty-handed, would they also send gifts like him?

What if this moody Ninth Master Xie cut them into pieces?

"Master Jiu, Prince Qi is here too."

Everyone in the flower hall relaxed, and sincerely thanked Prince Qi who arrived in time to help them out.

Xuanyuan Qi was dressed appropriately, wearing a blue robe inside and a black fox fur cloak with a white fur collar outside. He was extremely beautiful, tall and elegant, and looked very noble.

Everyone in the living room stood up to greet him.

"Please take a seat, everyone. No need to be polite." Xuanyuan Qi smiled, and his voice sounded peaceful and gentle, without the airs of a royal prince. "I heard that Her Majesty the Queen has granted marriage, so I came to congratulate Master Jiu. This is the mandarin duck that I carefully selected, and I give it to Master Jiu to show my appreciation."

The flower hall was quiet again.

Another mandarin duck.

Xuanyuan Qi opened the brocade box, and a jade mandarin duck with delicate texture and lustrous color lay quietly on the red silk in the brocade box. It was obvious that it was worth a lot of money at first glance. Prince Qi was of noble status, and the Prince Jing's Mansion was now the most prominent mansion among the royal princes. The things he gave were naturally not ordinary.

But when everyone heard him say this and gave such a gift at this time, their expressions became more complicated for a while, and it was hard to describe.

Xie Jin smiled calmly: "Thank you, Prince Qi, for the expense."

"You're welcome, and it didn't cost me." Xuanyuan Qi said in a light tone, "This prince just took one from the warehouse of the palace, as long as Jiu Ye likes it."

Everyone drank and drank tea, not knowing how to react.

Prince Qi said that he carefully selected it, and then he took one from the warehouse... Well, these are not the point. The point is whether this gift is not appropriate? It seems full of irony.

Xie Jin was not polite and ordered someone to take the gift. "Prince Qi, please take a seat."

Xuanyuan Qi nodded, and sat down elegantly behind the long table near the first seat. He raised his eyes slightly and glanced at the crowd: "Why don't you see Prince Yao?"

The air was chilly.

What's the matter? Xuanyuan Yao was not here, so they could barely keep calm. When Prince Yao came, they would be so embarrassed that they didn't know where to put their hands and feet.

"He went to the military camp and will come later." Xie Jin's tone was leisurely, and a little gentleness could be heard. "The military camp is different from the court. The commander needs to supervise the training from time to time."

Everyone lowered their eyes.

Gentle?

It must be an illusion, or Xie Jin deliberately made this indifferent expression, but in fact he must hate Xuanyuan Qi in his heart.

Xuanyuan Qi nodded slowly, indicating that he understood: "Chu Nanyi didn't come?"

"He should be here soon." Xie Jin said, looking up at him seriously, "Let me remind you that although Chu Nanyi is a bastard, you should call him second brother instead of calling him by name."

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

"Prince Qi is a royal noble, and Chu Nanyi is just a little bastard. How can they be compared?"

"The Crown Prince's wife is a legitimate daughter. Calling him second brother is already a great honor. It shouldn't matter whether Prince Qi calls her that or not, right?"

"There is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. Chu Nanyi--"

"Chu Nanyi is here."

Someone shouted, and the voice stopped abruptly.

Everyone turned to look.

Chu Nanyi was as elegant as Mo Lingan, and he looked handsome in a brocade robe. His face, which was not inferior to that of a noble son of an aristocratic family, was filled with an elegant smile, and he looked like a spring breeze. He did not have the shabby, dull, and cowardly look that a bastard should have.

To be honest, the young masters present felt a little uncomfortable, because most of the people who were invited by Xie Jin to be guests were legitimate sons of the family-except Chu Nanyi and Xuanyuan Chen, who had a good relationship in private.

In the eyes of the legitimate son, the status of the illegitimate son and daughter is only slightly better than that of the maidservants in the family. They have to rely on their legitimate mother and legitimate sons and daughters for clothing, food and daily life. Their fate is not in their own hands. They have to get the consent of their legitimate mother and legitimate brother for anything they want to do. This is an insurmountable gap in status.

But Chu Nanyi, the illegitimate son, lives a more glorious life than the legitimate sons of many families.

window._taboola = window._taboola || ; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbs-feed-01', container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnail---300x250', placement: 'Below article thumbnail - 300x250', target_type: 'mix' });