Upon hearing that her daughter had agreed to attend the Riverside Banquet, Mother Gu hurried over to dissuade her. “It’s best not to go out at a time like this. It’s better to lay low for a while.”
After all, the engagement had just been broken off. Mother Gu was worried that her daughter would be mocked and ridiculed, and thought it better for her to stay home.
Gu Qingyi looked at her mother, smiled softly, and said, “The Late Emperor has passed away, and the new emperor is still young. Our family has no grievances with the Imperial Uncle, so why should we continue to tread as carefully as before? Besides, we’ve already made an enemy of He Runsheng. If the Gu family continues to lie low, it might not be in our best interest when facing him.”
Mother Gu had always focused on supporting her husband and raising her children, fulfilling her duties at home. She knew that her daughter was highly regarded and beloved by both her husband and son, and that she had been clever since childhood. Hearing her speak like this, Mother Gu knew she had already made up her mind.
“I’m just worried that you’ll be ridiculed and feel hurt,” Mother Gu said, looking at her daughter. “Dingbei Wang has returned triumphant, his prestige is soaring. That scoundrel broke off the engagement with you, leaving you as nothing but a laughingstock.”
“That’s exactly why I must go out,” Gu Qingyi replied. “For so many years, I’ve hardly attended any poetry gatherings or banquets in Huikang City. But now that the mountain weighing us down is gone, it’s time for our Gu family to hold our heads high.”
Mother Gu knew how much her daughter had endured for the family over the years. After a moment’s thought, she said, “If you want to go, then go. I’ll speak to your father about it.”
“Mother, Father will only be happy to hear it. Don’t worry.”
Mother Gu was amused by her daughter’s words, but then she let out a long sigh. Her daughter was so wonderful, yet He Runsheng was as blind as could be, even going so far as to get involved with the young lady of the Fu family. It was truly infuriating.
“Fu Lanyun will surely be there too. What do you plan to do when you see her?” Mother Gu asked, looking at her daughter seriously.
“Naturally, I’ll ask her how the Gu family’s jade vase looks.”
Mother Gu: “…”
The Riverside Banquet was held along the banks of the Hui River. Although the Purification Ceremony had already passed, the spring weather was warm, and many people still came out to enjoy the scenery, sing, and feast.
Commoners mostly traveled on foot, but noble families like the Gu family had their paths cleared by private retainers, with screens and curtains set up around them, making for an impressive display.
Gu Qingyi didn’t want to go to such trouble, but her father and elder brother insisted, saying that since she had just been publicly humiliated by the broken engagement, she must make an even grander entrance when going out.
It was meant to be comforting, but somehow it sounded awkward.
Colorful silk curtains had been hung early along the banks of the Hui River, and the most scenic stretch had been cordoned off for the banquet.
Maids and servants had already cleared away dead branches, stones, weeds, and duckweed from the riverbank. Thick carpets were laid over the lush green grass. Though not as extravagant as the Shu brocade carpets used during the Purification Ceremony, the setup was still impressive enough to deter commoners, who would take detours upon seeing it from afar.
Everyone knew the real purpose of today’s banquet, and even the maids cleaning up couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
First, they talked about which noble family had been the most impressive during the Purification Ceremony, then moved on to gossiping about the famous scholars and talented young men of Huikang City.
“Lord Xinling’s zither skills are unmatched in the world. I heard that when he played a piece by the Hui River last time, countless young ladies were captivated. It’s a shame I wasn’t assigned to serve our young lady then, so I couldn’t hear it myself.”
“Young Master Zhong Qi’s archery that day was incredible—shooting through a willow leaf from a hundred paces away.”
“What’s so impressive about that? Have you not seen Young Master Xi’s heroic posture on horseback? That day, he rode Zhuri in a race around the river, and no one present could match him. The young ladies’ cheers nearly reached the heavens.”
“But can any of them compare to Young Master Yuan?”
Everyone fell silent.
The Ninth Young Master of the Yuan family excelled in both horsemanship, archery, and various arts, making him the most renowned among the younger generation of gentlemen.
Yet all these were secondary; what mattered most was that Yuan Shuo was exceptionally handsome.