Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 208: Banquet to Celebrate the Opening of the Residence

Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Banquet to Celebrate the Opening of the Residence

Since learning about Xie Xun’s situation in the palace that day, Su Juan had been fixated on Xie Xun, staring at him while eating, walking, and everywhere else, as if she was determined to bore a hole through him.

On this day, at Su Juan’s new mansion banquet, Xie Xun swaggered in with a gift, his fan not yet open, when Su Juan’s intense gaze made his skin crawl.

Su Juan thought, [Who would have thought, Xie Xun, such a small body, carries so much burden...]

Xie Xun widened his eyes: "???" What small body!?

How did my magnificent physique become a small body?

If your eyesight is bad, go to the palace and let the Imperial Physician take a look for you!

When Liu Xuan and others arrived, they saw Xie Xun storming into the mansion as if angered by someone. "What happened to Heir Xie?"

Su Juan feigned ignorance: "I don’t know."

Many guests came and went from the Princess Mansion, including those friendly with Su Juan and many who came uninvited, hoping to curry favor with the Princess Mansion, most carrying invitations from the Su Mansion from that day.

Su Juan had them welcomed into the mansion, for as long as they entered her mansion, they were guests.

Seeing all these plump little lambs to be slaughtered, her mouth almost watered, [So fat...]

The guests around looked around bewilderedly, "?"

What fat?

"Your Highness."

Su Juan turned her head to see Cai Yi, and she greeted him with a smile, personally leading him into the mansion, "Master Cai, please come inside."

"I have yet to formally congratulate the Master."

Among the younger generation, Cai Yi was the most outstanding, and she was proud of her judgement.

Back when Cai Yanzheng held the role of Crown Prince’s Tutor, he was already thirty-six, but now Cai Yi was only twenty-eight, surpassing his predecessors.

Cai Yi smiled warmly, "Your Highness is too kind."

The surrounding people all had their own thoughts; it was clear that Cai Yi had only recently been promoted, just after Su Juan was made Princess Jinyang. Clearly, it showed that His Majesty was selecting capable people for the princess.

Cai Yi was undoubtedly one of them, and now he was getting along so well with the princess, obviously a good fit.

Beside them, Xie Xun snorted softly, still not fond of Cai Yi.

Cai Yi instead greeted him respectfully, "Heir Xie."

Su Juan led Cai Yi to the main table, and Xie Xun watched enviously from the side, feeling sour inside after previously despising Su Juan for staring at him all the time.

What is so great about this hypocrite, sitting at the same table as me?

He snapped open his fan, as if drawing a boundary with Cai Yi.

Beside him, Liu Xuan, unfazed, lowered his eyes and drank tea.

Cai Yi knew Xie Xun still held a grudge about the past, but he bore no malice. As schoolmates in their youth, he had been disappointed to see Xie Xun not living up to his potential, and the articles he wrote were merely to wake him up. Unexpectedly, they were exaggerated and taken to the emperor, which resulted in Xie Xun being punished. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

When Mei Ying arrived, she instantly spotted Liu Xuan talking with colleagues, wearing a peach-colored dress as if to compete with Su Juan for attention.

Seeing Su Juan, resentment boiled inside her. Since being reprimanded by the Empress in the palace, no one had come to propose marriage, and when her mother went to the Liu Family, Lady Liu gently refused.

She spent her days weeping in her room, angry at the Empress for targeting her, even though she had done nothing wrong. Now it was clear that it was all thanks to Su Juan.

Everything the Empress did was for her precious granddaughter, and when Liu Miaoying targeted her that day, it was also for Su Juan!

She is truly fortunate, being just the daughter of a merchant, yet first climbed into the Prince Jing Mansion, and after being dismissed, was recognized by the Empress, and now ascended to the position of princess.

Mei Ying was gnashing her teeth, wondering why the heavens were so partial!

If not for her parents forcing her to come, she would not have set foot here today, no matter what.

No matter how many thoughts and resentment she harbored, when she saw Su Juan, she still put on a smiling face and greeted, "Mei Ying pays respects to Princess Jinyang."

Upon seeing Mei Ying, Su Juan stepped forward to support her, saying with a smile, "We are all close friends, Sister Mei, no need for such formalities."

Mei Ying was caught off guard by her warmth. Could it be that Liu Miaoying hadn’t told Su Juan about that day?

Remembering her father’s words, she knew not to offend Princess Jinyang and, if possible, to build a connection. She collected herself, noting the surrounding gazes, and feigned affection, "Now that you are a princess, how could I act discourteously?"

But Su Juan said, "We are sisters, there is no need for these empty gestures. They are only for show for others."

Mei Ying immediately put on a smile, "Then I shall follow others and call you Ah Juan."

People around looked over in surprise, not expecting Miss Mei to be so close with Princess Jinyang.

Back in the palace, Mei Ying had been left out and rumors spread about her; they didn’t want to provoke displeasure from the nobles and faced repercussions, so they distanced from her, but today’s sight was unexpected.

As Mei Ying took her seat, many gathered around her, "Sister Mei, long time no see, you look even more beautiful than before."

"How is your waist so slim, dear sister, you must teach me."

"Your lipstick today looks stunning, where did you get it?"

With their chatter, Mei Ying became the most sought-after lady among them.

Mei Ying sneered inwardly at their opportunism.

When they saw her being marginalized in the palace, they distanced from her and disparaged her, but now with her closeness to the princess, they eagerly approached.

Mei Ying knew full well that none of them were sincere, but she was a person who cared about her reputation. Their flattery was pleasing, and she responded with a smile.

Su Juan glanced at her and continued chatting and drinking with the others nearby.

Xie Xun clicked his tongue twice, "Are you really that close with that Mei Ying?"

Su Juan nonchalantly replied, "Does it matter?"

Beside her, Liu Miaoying stayed silent. She could roughly guess what Su Juan intended, knowing that Mei Ying was a person who valued her reputation dearly. Since the incident in the palace, Mei Ying had not left her house, likely forced to come by Minister Mei and his wife.

It was because of the Empress that Mei Ying and the Mei family suffered repeated setbacks, and now they were trying to curry favor with Su Juan for Princess Jinyang’s recognition.

Su Juan’s actions aligned with Minister Mei’s intentions, getting close to Mei Ying but also definitively creating a rift between Minister Mei and Prince Jing Mansion.

Mei He, after all, was a person who would abandon principles for profit. Unable to gain favor at Prince Jing Mansion and repeatedly finding no help, now sees the olive branch from Princess Jinyang and is eager to pledge allegiance.

But, such a person, does Ah Juan truly intend to use them?

At this moment, the Deputy Chief Censor got drunk. Due to previous heated arguments at the court sessions, he held long-standing grievances against Su Juan, and seeing so many people flattering her, he slammed the table loudly and began speaking insolently.

"Just a princess with an empty reputation, unsure if she has Imperial blood or not, yet you all flatter this woman so excessively, truly lacking the backbone of Jin men!"

Su Juan watched him with interest.

The guests were stunned on the spot, their expressions changing. The Deputy Chief Censor was truly intoxicated to dare speak such words!